Record

Document Reference	Bu 44/43
Title	Copy despatch from A. Buchanan, Madrid, Spain, to Lord John Russell [later 1st Earl Russell], Foreign Office, London; 13 Oct 1859.
Date	13 October 1859
Extent	5 ff
Level	Piece
Content Description	States that any delay in an invasion of Morocco would be short lived and that O'Donnell wished to pursue Spanish ambitions in Africa; discusses anti-Moroccan propaganda in Spain dating back to the Crusades; discusses the events leading up to the present state of affairs including attacks by the Moors on Ceuta and the death of the old Sultan; comments on the influence of the military on the Spanish Government and states that several ministers thought a war with Morocco would be bad for the economic development of Spain and the construction of the railways; informs him that the Sultan of Morocco could not control tribes which regularly attacked both Spanish and French garrisons and feels Britain should oppose Spanish ambitions in Africa which were against British interests.
Term	transport, railways
	economy, Spanish
	propaganda, Spanish
	religious affairs, Crusades
	Moroccan affairs, 'Moroccan Question'
	politics, Spanish
	colonial affairs, Spanish

Persons

Code	PersonName	Dates of existence
NA6258	O'Donnell; Leopoldo (1809-1867); Duke of Tetuan; general and politician	1809-1867
NA6254	Abd ar-Rahman (d 1859); Sultan of Morocco; ( succeeded 1822)	d 1859
NA6302	Muhammad IV (d 1873); Sultan of Morocco; ( succeeded 1859)	d 1873
NA136	Buchanan; Andrew (1807-1882); 1st Baronet; diplomat	1807-1882
NA139	Russell; John (1792-1878); 1st Earl Russell	1792-1878