This colonial war launched by the Spanish Governnt ended just like that.
Even before the war was launched, Pri Minister Primó had considered what the purpose of this war really was, that is, what Spain wanted to obtain in this war.
Since the British Governnt had already agreed to Spain’s occupation of the coastline near Agadir in southern Morocco, and also agreed to the Moroccan Governnt’s indemnity to the Spanish Governnt, it was natural that this war could end.
Unfortunately, such things were destined not to happen again. Otherwise, if it happened once a year, the Spanish Governnt would have a clear path for the industrial developnt funds it lacked.
On October 2, 1870, under the witness of the British Ambassador, the Spanish Governnt and the Moroccan Governnt began peace negotiations in Ceuta to end this war.
Unlike the brief eting between British Ambassador William and Pri Minister Primó before, this peace talk concerned the interests between Spain and Morocco, and was bound to involve a lot of haggling.
The peace talks could last as short as a few days, or as long as more than ten days or even a month. Only when a peace agreent acceptable to both sides was confird could the peace talks truly end.
After reaching a compromise with British Ambassador William, Pri Minister Primó reported to Carlo, informing him that the peace talks and the war were about to end.
Carlo was still a bit regretful. The war had only broken out a few days ago, Camann and Andrew had just rushed to the battlefield, and it was clear they wouldn’t get any honors.
However, as long as it was guaranteed that the Spanish Governnt could harvest more land and indemnity in this war, it would also be good news.
Ti ca to October 2, and the peace negotiations in Ceuta officially began.
Spain’s diplomatic representative imdiately put forward two demands from Spain, one was land, and the other was funds.
The Spanish Governnt demanded that all Moroccan regions south of the line from Agadir to Tata belong to the Spanish Governnt, as compensation from the Moroccan Governnt to the Spanish Governnt and commoners.
Secondly, the Moroccan Governnt needed to pay 350 million pesetas in indemnity to the Spanish Governnt. Of which, 200 million pesetas were the expenses of Spain’s military action this ti, which should rightfully be borne by the Moroccan Governnt.
The remaining 150 million pesetas were compensation for the Spanish commoners and soldiers killed in this war, as well as the fees for the Spanish Army to withdraw from Moroccan territory.
There was an additional requirent that the Moroccan Governnt establish a demilitarized zone in the Tangier, Tetouan, and Ceuta triangle, where the Moroccan Army was not allowed to enter, to prevent similar conflicts from happening again.
Now the Moroccan Governnt’s representative could no longer sit still.
The three conditions were each more outrageous than the last, simply putting the Moroccan Governnt representative on fire.
Although Agadir was known as the largest city in southern Morocco, Agadir’s geographical location was more towards the central part.
The land south of the line from Agadir to Tata was not small, and for Morocco, it was already close to one-sixth of the territory.
Although the population here was not large compared to the northern region, ceding nearly one-sixth of the territory at once was sothing the Moroccan Governnt absolutely could not agree to.
The second was the 350 million pesetas indemnity.
This indemnity was completely an astronomical figure for the Moroccan Governnt, impossible to co up with even by selling everything.
Plus the demilitarized zone required by the last condition, the Moroccan Governnt had not beco Spain’s colony, but what difference did it make from becoming Spain’s colony?
“No, this is fundantally impossible.” The Moroccan Governnt representative stood up in shock, casting an angry gaze at Spain’s governnt representative, and directly refused: “We cannot agree to such demands, absolutely not.”
“Then it’s easy.” The Spanish Governnt representative smiled and nodded, not caring about the Moroccan Governnt representative at all: “Then let the war continue, and let the outco of the war speak.
But as a friendly reminder to your country, once we invest more funds in this war, the indemnity after your country’s defeat will be even more.”
Hearing Spain’s threat, the Moroccan Governnt representative quickly turned his gaze to British Ambassador William, seeking help from the British side.
The British naturally could not sit idly by and watch the negotiations break down. If the war really continued, the developnt of the situation would no longer be under the British’ control.
“Gentlen, since you have all co here together, it proves that everyone has the willingness for peace talks.
I propose that both sides take a step back and strive to reach a peace agreent acceptable to both.
Considering the specific economic situation of the Moroccan Governnt, I believe that the 350 million pesetas indemnity is unreasonable and an unbearable burden for the Moroccan Governnt.” British Ambassador William stood up, trying to bring the peace talks back on track: “
How about this, today’s negotiations end here. Both sides draft a more reasonable set of peace demands, and we discuss again tomorrow?”
The first day’s peace negotiations ended with no progress.
The Spanish representatives remained very relaxed, as Morocco was now like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, and it was impossible without paying so heavy price.
This was also a characteristic of this era: underdeveloped countries had to be prepared at all tis to be invaded and plundered by more powerful countries.
The saying “the backward will be beaten” was very reasonable; the law of the jungle was the only truth in this era.
On the Moroccan side, after the first day’s negotiations ended, the Moroccan representative imdiately approached British Ambassador William, seeking his help.
“Respected British Ambassador, Spain’s demands are fundantally unacceptable to Morocco. We request the powerful British Governnt’s help, and we are willing to pay the corresponding price.” The Moroccan ambassador said straightforwardly to William.
“Sir, I sympathize greatly with your governnt’s plight.” British Ambassador William first put on a helpless expression, and said very regretfully to the Moroccan Governnt representative: “But as you know, even though the British Empire is extrely powerful, it cannot arbitrarily intervene in the decisions of other countries.
Letting Spain abandon its demands for northern Morocco land is already the limit of what we can do for your country. The Spaniards will not give up the idea of colonizing Morocco, and we deeply regret this.”
Although the British Governnt could accept Spain annexing the land of southern Morocco, this did not an the British would not cause so trouble for Spain.
Inciting Moroccans to more intense resistance against Spain through this incident was sothing the British Governnt had long planned internally.
Since Spain had the audacity to launch a war against Morocco and occupy Moroccan land as a colony, Spain should also bear the Moroccans’ resistance against Spain, as well as the hatred for their territory being invaded.
This way, even if Spain could obtain a not-small-scale colony through this war, they would be exhausted from long-term suppression of Moroccan resistance, and even pay more than they gained.
With the Spaniards busy suppressing Morocco’s rebellion, they naturally would have no ti to have ideas about the British’ Gibraltar.
Plus the rebels in Cuba and the Philippines, the rebellions in these three colonies would be enough to make the Spanish Governnt overwheld, and it might even force Spain to expend massive funds and manpower for a long ti, ultimately weakening its national strength and thoroughly turning into a country unable to pose any threat to Britain.
Feeling unwell today, taking a day off, just one update. Continuing with daily ten thousand tomorrow!
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