§ 25. Mr. JOHN WARDasked whether the French Government are contemplating the appointment of a Minister of North Africa for grouping up and rearranging the administration of Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco; and, if so, whether this will or is intended to subvert and substitute the provisions of the Treaty of Algeciras so far as Morocco is concerned?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have no information respecting the appointment referred to, but the provisions of the Algeciras Act are, in any case, modified by the establishment of the French and Spanish Proctectorates in Morocco.
§ Mr. J. WARDHas the hon. Gentleman seen the report presented to the French Chamber on this subject?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have not seen it. I will look into that.
§ 26. Mr. J. WARDasked if there is any agreement between the French and Spanish Governments for handing over to the former any part of the territory within the Spanish sphere of influence as payment for any military assistance the French Government may render Spain in her attempt to conquer the tribes in the Riff?
§ Mr. ACLANDNo such agreement has been brought to the notice of His Majesty's Government.
§ 27. Mr. J. WARDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the recent operations of French troops within the Spanish sphere of influence in Morocco, particularly in the district north of Taza, in the Kabila of 1899 Egzniai, in the direction of the Bay of Alheusemas; whether the French general has demanded tribute from the tribe within the Spanish sphere; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to maintain the Treaty of Algeciras?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have reecived no such information.
§ Mr. J. WARDHas the hon. Gentleman any reason to impute the statement that the French are now operating in the district referred to?
§ Mr. ACLANDWe have good sources of information, and we have not got the information contained in the question, and therefore cannot confirm it.
§ 28. Mr. J. WARDasked whether there is any suggestion of the Spanish Government ceding either Ceuta or Alheucemas to a foreign Power; and, if so, what action His Majesty's Government propose to take to protect British interests in the Mediterranean?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have heard of no such suggestion.