SPANISH AMBITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19413, 23 August 1926, Page 9

SPANISH AMBITIONS.

TEREITORY IN MOROCCO.

TANGIER GONTROL SOUGHT. APPEAL TO GREAT POWERS. LEAGUE ASSEMBLY INVOLVED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. ' LONDON. Aug. 21. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that a most important official move has been made by General Primo do Rivera, Prime Minister of Spain. He has requested, through diplomatic ciYannels, that the Governments of Britain, France and Italy should agree either to the incorporation of Tangier as an enclave within Spain's Moroccan protectorate, or the granting by the League of Nations to Spain of a mandate over Tangier. The correspondent emphasises that the strategic position, so far at Britain is concerned, is that the control of Tangier by any single Power might constitute a meriaco to Gibraltar and to the freedom of the Straits, which are vital to the British Navy. <° France is perturbed for different reasons. Her relations with Spain are not so harmonious as would appear on the surface in spite of the common efforts of the French and the Spanish against the late Riff leader, Abd el Krim.

Moreover, under the present regime at Tangier France exercises a marked predominance over the other Powers. This constitutes the chief grievance of Spain.' : t -;.,■■■■ Trouble at Geneva Threatened. ' The position of Italy is a puzzle in view of the absence from Rome of the Prime Minister, Signor Mussolini. It is, however, certain that she has not withdrawn " her recent demands for participation m the administration of Tangier. The question threatens to create difficulty at Geneva in September. ' British diplomacy is confronted by obstacles which can only be surmounted by frank and fearless realisations of its Locarno aims. ■ ' . The resettlement of Tangier has nothing to do with the Geneva programme. Nor is there reason for the British Government- to allow itself to be "drawn into fresh controversies about Spanish, Polish or any other claims for seats on the Council of the League. Britain Holds " Trump Card." The commission which is to meet on August 30 is competent to discuss; the number and character of the seats on the Council,'but not the allocations of seats. That is a matter for 'the Assembly itself. ;In this connection the British Government possesses the ''trump card." It is Britain who/ without receiving anything in return, has undertaken/ "under the Treaty of Locarno, to guarantee the security of other signatories. The latter were warned then that this was Britain's last and only oifer of the kind. The hour'may have arrived, or sooh may arrive, when a reminder of this fact may not be inopportune, says the correspondent.' If' so, it should not regain' without effect upon' the obstrucr "