Empire Rising: Spain

Chapter 92: Chapter 86: A Headache-Inducing Negotiation

“However, we hope to occupy all Moroccan territories south of Agadir, and the Moroccan Government should compensate our government with at least 500 million pesetas.” Prime Minister Prim feigned a thoughtful expression, and after pondering for a moment, he finally spoke.

“500 million pesetas, Prime Minister Prim, why don’t you just rob it? That’s too much; it’s compensation far beyond what the Moroccan Government can bear.

If I may speak frankly, Prime Minister Prim, given the economic condition of the Moroccan Government, the maximum compensation they can accept is 20 million pesetas.” Ambassador William, somewhat 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 Government?

Ambassador William looked at Prim with disbelief in his eyes; wasn’t this simply extortion?

Robbery? Prime 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. Prime Minister Prim feigned a pained expression and, somewhat 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 equipment 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 Government consumed 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 Government as fools?

“Prime Minister Prim, the amount of compensation can be discussed in detail during the peace talks.” Ambassador William reminded: “On behalf of the British Government, I agree to your country’s claims over the southern lands of Morocco, and assent to the Moroccan Government compensating your country.

So, is your government willing to cease hostilities and enter into peace negotiations with Morocco?”

Prime Minister Prim nodded, unable to hide the smile on his face: “Of course, Ambassador William. To be honest, the Spanish Government does not wish to see war either; we yearn for the arrival of peace.

As long as the Moroccan Government can agree to our two demands, we can cease hostilities at any time, and I assure you on behalf of the Spanish Government, the Spanish Army will absolutely not set foot on Moroccan soil again.”

With Prim’s nod of agreement, Ambassador William finally breathed a sigh of relief; this negotiation was even more exhausting, mentally and physically, than his entanglement 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 Government.

As for the compensation that the Moroccan Government owed to Spain, does it matter? Actually, not at all.

The British won’t concern themselves with whether the Moroccan Government can afford that compensation; failing that, the British Government could also offer a loan to the Moroccan Government.

After all, they could impose high interest rates and some additional conditions on the compensation; even if the Moroccan Government ultimately couldn’t repay this loan, those additional conditions would be sufficient to ensure that the British Government’s interests would not suffer any losses.