| Content Description | Volume of despatches from Sir A. Buchanan to the Foreign Office describing events, before, during and after the war between Spain and Morocco; the main points of interest are the legality of claims made by Spain for attacks on Spanish forts in Morocco by Moorish tribes, not necessarily under control of the Sultan; attacks on Spanish vessels by Rif pirates and the taking of Spanish prisoners which caused Spain to take hostages and negotiations for the release of these prisoners; territorial disputes and the granting of neutral ground at Melilla, Ceuta and other Spanish forts; the influence exercised by the British Government over the Moroccans through the offices of Mr Drummond-Hay, who was consul in Morocco for over 30 years; British interests in the region lay in Gibraltar and possible dominance over the Straits of Gibraltar from the Moroccan coast.
Other points of interest are references to the economic development of Spain, especially with regard to the railways; the influence of the Spanish press on public opinion; the dominance of the military in the Spanish Cortes; Spanish pride and desire to prove to other European powers that she possessed military strength; the unity of Spain is illustrated by support for the war by the Basque Provinces. |