NO MENAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20892, 25 August 1939, Page 5

NO MENAGE

TANGIER AND THE POWERS INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT COMPLICATED CONDITIONS If Tangier were in the possession of a sir.gie Great Power it would he as formidable a naval base as Gibraltar, Ceuta, or Cape Tarita, writes the Tangier correspondent of the Manchester Guardian. Cape >. Sp&rlel, within the territory of the Tangier international Settlement, is the most north-western point of Africa and dominates the straits. Yet under international rule Tangier is no menace either to England or to France. Tangier is situated within the Spanish zone in Morocco, which, in turn, is surrounded by French Morocco. There is no doubt that during the civil war in Spain some of General Franco's foreign friends counselled him to occupy Tangier. Franco, however, exercised caution, for much as lie would have liked to incorporate Tangier in the Spanish zone, a Spanish occupation of Tangier would undoubtedly have caused a French occupation of Spanish Morocco. The Civil War In Spain During the civil war Tangier was naturally a danger-spot. The town has a mixed population. The Arabs bated all the Europeans. The Spanish were divided between the ltebublicans and Nationalists. Even the French were divided: the lower classes sided with the Spanish loyalists and the richer classes with the followers of Franco. This division even penetrated into the ranks of the international police. The Spanish commander of the gendurmery was a Nationalist; his two lieutenants sympathised with the Government. Even the French police were divided on the Spanisli question. Under these circumstances it was evident that in case of trouble it would have been impossible to use the police. Fortunately there were only two serious incidents, both ending, however, in fatal casualties. That there were not more is probably due to the tact and diplomacy of the French general administrator, whose constant endeavour was to prevent an incident which might have brought into Tangier harbour the fleet of one or the other of the Great Powers. Divided Sovereignty Life is extremely complicated in Tangier owing to the nature of the International Statute. The nominal sovereignty in Morocco is exercised by the Sultan in Rabat, in the French zone. Rightly or wuongly, lie is considered a puppet in the hands of the French, yet normally he is also the ruler of Spanish Morocco and of Tangier, where his Viceroy, the Mendoub, resides. Nominal sovereignty in Tangier therefore rests with the Mendoub, but the statute of December TB, 1923, placed the town under an international Administration. The Chief Administrator is a Frenchman; the Spanisli administrator looks alter hygiene and welfare; the British is in charge ol' linances, and the Italian is in charge of justice. In the Mixed Tribunal there are two Spanish and French magistrates and one English, Italian, and Belgian. This Mixed Tribunal is the law court for Europeans. If an Arab or a Jew has a suit against a European it is tried by this tribunal. The claims of a European against an Arab, however, are tried by the Sultan’s or Mendouh’s Court. The Legislative Assembly of Tangier consists of four Spaniards and Frenchmen, three English and Italians, one Portuguese, one Belgian, one Dutchman, six Moslems, and three Jews. The chief of the gendarmery is a Spaniard; there are two Spanish and two French lieutenants and a Belgian non-commissioned officer,. Spanish Influence The consular officials in Tangier have far-reaching privileges and can demand from the Administrator the expulsion of their undesirable subjects. During the civil war the Spanish loyalist Consul repeatedly askod for the expulsion of Franco s supporters, but the Administration, not 1 wishing to create further complications, evaded his demands. But when ’ the civil war came to an end the c-on- ' sular representative of New Spain demanded the expulsion of those Spanish leaders from Tangier who had sided ’ with the loyalists. This demand affected about forty to lifty “ißeds,” of whom twenty-live left voluntarily while the rest will he expelled slowly, : and will go to the French Moroccan zone. The result of this consular veto is that, while formerly the majority of Spaniards in Tangier were Republicans or loyalists, now all are outs doing the original—Francoists. In • many taxis, driven by chauffeurs - whose faces suggest that they would j have belonged to the loyalist side, 1 i found Spanish emblems and flags 1 exhibited. It did not look spon--5 taneous. On many houses of rich , people, of course, one can see decorai linns and inscriptions celehratinp i Franco's victory. Agreement With France 5 Spain makes no secret of the fact that in the future she intends to con--1 duct an imperialist policy. The ’ Spanish regard Tangier as a Spanish l town and count even the SpanisliJ speaking Jewish population amongst 5 tiie Spanish. I had the opportunity of talking to prominent Spaniards in Tangier who made no secret of their dissatisfaction. Why should a Frenchv man be the Administrator of a Spanish city? they say. Others quote the v secret agreement between France and 1 Spain in November, 1935, in which the 0 French, in exchange for certain Spanv ish promises, are said to have agreed lhat at the next elections the new e Administrator would he a Spaniard.. The argument of one highly influential and patriotic Spaniard was illuminating: The protection of foreign lives by e the International Statute in Tangier is

purely fictitious. The Tangier inhabitants have only one real guarantee; the proximity of the Spanish Army in Morocco. If the Arabs dared to start a revolt and attempted to massacre the Christian population, the Spanish zone and the nearness of the Spanisli legions are the only guarantee for the life of the Europeans. My informant was full of hatred against France. It was France, he said, who continued her domineering game in Morocco. She did not keep the agreement of November, 1935. The statute, naturally, was drafted in such a way that the majority in the Legislative Assembly was always controlled by France

The French Case This is the Spanish point of view. The l-’rench argument naturally is quite different. It is true, say my French friends, that France concluded a treaty with Spain in November, 1935, but this treaty was simply intended to effect a “modus vivendi.” During the years 1935 and 1930, however, the differences Detween Spain and France only increased, and the Spanish repeatedly violated the agreement long before the civil war. Then came the Spanish civil war. There was as a result such a cleavage of opinion between the Spanish-speak-ing population that the appointment or election of a Spaniard would have been out of the question. Under these circumstances the Legislative Assembly wisely extended the further term of oflice of the French Chief Administrator. The treaty of 1935 cannot be regarded as valid to-day because it was concluded between the Spanish Republican Government and France. And Franco refused to recognise the legality of the Republican rcigime. The French arguments, however, are legal, and Fascist States do nut care about legal arguments. Thus, whatever France says, it is certain that, sooner or later, the question of Tangier will be raised. I believe that the issue will be raised peacefully, but much will depend on the future development of Franco-Spanish relations. c