"However, we hope to occupy all Moroccan territories south of Agadir, and the Moroccan Governnt should compensate our governnt with at least 500 million pesetas." Pri Minister Prim feigned a thoughtful expression, and after pondering for a mont, he finally spoke.
"500 million pesetas, Pri Minister Prim, why don’t you just rob it? That’s too much; it’s compensation far beyond what the Moroccan Governnt can bear.
If I may speak frankly, Pri Minister Prim, given the economic condition of the Moroccan Governnt, the maximum compensation they can accept is 20 million pesetas." Ambassador William, sowhat defensive and losing his composure, said to Prim.
million pesetas is no small sum. The value of the peseta and the franc are roughly equivalent, and this amount also equates to 500 million francs, a tenth of the compensation France paid Germany after the war.
Even the French only paid 5 billion francs in reparations; how can you, Prim, confidently demand 500 million francs from the Moroccan Governnt?
Ambassador William looked at Prim with disbelief in his eyes; wasn’t this simply extortion?
Robbery? Pri Minister Prim smiled slightly in his heart and inwardly answered: Isn’t this robbery?
However, such words were obviously not suitable to be said out loud. Pri Minister Prim feigned a pained expression and, sowhat helplessly, said, "Then let’s reduce it to 300 million pesetas, Ambassador William.
You don’t know, we’ve already spent at least 200 million pesetas on this war. Coupled with the casualties among civilians and the army, I believe 300 million pesetas in reparations is very reasonable."
Ambassador William was almost sneering. Did this war cost 200 million pesetas? It probably didn’t even hit a tenth of that.
The war had only lasted a few days, and the Spanish Army had little more than rifles and artillery.
The current firing rates of rifles and artillery were relatively slow, and given the poor equipnt of the Moroccan army, there was no need for sustained fire suppression.
Under such circumstances, how much ammunition could the Spanish Army possibly have expended?
A reasonable estimate would suggest that the Spanish Governnt consud probably not even 10 million pesetas in this few days of warfare, to turn around and demand 300 million pesetas in reparations — are they treating the British Governnt as fools?
"Pri Minister Prim, the amount of compensation can be discussed in detail during the peace talks." Ambassador William reminded: "On behalf of the British Governnt, I agree to your country’s claims over the southern lands of Morocco, and assent to the Moroccan Governnt compensating your country.
So, is your governnt willing to cease hostilities and enter into peace negotiations with Morocco?"
Pri Minister Prim nodded, unable to hide the smile on his face: "Of course, Ambassador William. To be honest, the Spanish Governnt does not wish to see war either; we yearn for the arrival of peace.
As long as the Moroccan Governnt can agree to our two demands, we can cease hostilities at any ti, and I assure you on behalf of the Spanish Governnt, the Spanish Army will absolutely not set foot on Moroccan soil again."
With Prim’s nod of agreent, Ambassador William finally breathed a sigh of relief; this negotiation was even more exhausting, ntally and physically, than his entanglent with two aristocratic ladies the previous night.
Yet, in the end, the result was satisfactory; the Spaniards were willing to abandon their territorial claims over Northern Morocco, which was the most important aspect for the British Governnt.
As for the compensation that the Moroccan Governnt owed to Spain, does it matter? Actually, not at all.
The British won’t concern themselves with whether the Moroccan Governnt can afford that compensation; failing that, the British Governnt could also offer a loan to the Moroccan Governnt.
After all, they could impose high interest rates and so additional conditions on the compensation; even if the Moroccan Governnt ultimately couldn’t repay this loan, those additional conditions would be sufficient to ensure that the British Governnt’s interests would not suffer any losses.
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