The protracted peace talks, lasting several tense days, finally concluded. Under the witness of the British, the Spanish Government and the
The protracted peace talks, lasting several tense days, finally concluded. Under the witness of the British, the Spanish Government and the Moroccan government jointly signed a new accord: the Treaty of Ceuta. Beyond the terms of peace, both governments also formally agreed to a ten-year moratorium on mutual disputes, with all future conflicts to be resolved by the neutral, mediating power, England.
The Spanish Government naturally offered no objection to this arrangement. Firstly, the British were hardly foolish; they wouldn't countenance Spain extorting Morocco repeatedly without consequence. Secondly, Spain had already secured almost everything it desired in the new peace agreement. Britain would never have sanctioned Spain acquiring the lands near Tetouan and Tangier in the north, a stance unlikely to change in the coming decade. Spain's expansionist ambitions, therefore, would now turn to other African territories, such as Guinea and the Congo, rather than continuing to contest Morocco, an area clearly within British purview.
On October 9, 1870, Prime Minister Prim sought out Carlo, a relaxed smile on his face, to report the peace talks' successful conclusion.
"Your Majesty, our objective has been achieved." Prim's satisfaction was palpable.
"How are things? Did the British finally yield on their stance?" Carlo asked with interest. Though framed as negotiations between Spain and Morocco, it was undeniable that the true decision-maker had been the British Government. Without their intervention, this war would surely have ended with Morocco's utter collapse and unconditional surrender.
"The British were willing to take a step back on land in exchange for our concession on reparations," Prim explained, his smile widening. "It's a shame our proposal for a demilitarized zone didn't pass; it would have opened avenues for economic influence in northern Morocco."
Carlo nodded, his mood visibly uplifted. "Tell me, what price did the Moroccans pay in this war?"
"The British conceded to our territorial claims west of the Agadir-Tata line, granting us colonial privileges over the entire Western Sahara. We will establish the South Morocco Colony, formally incorporating this vast area into our colonial rule."
Carlo nodded, quite satisfied with this outcome. More importantly, colonial governors in Spain were appointed directly by the King, and acquiring a new colony translated directly into strengthening the crown's power.
"Does the government have any suitable recommendations for the governorship of this new colony?" Carlo suddenly asked.
Prime Minister Prim paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, not entirely grasping his King's intent.
"I haven't been in Spain for long and haven't had much contact with the Spanish nobility," Carlo rephrased, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "Prime Minister Prim, as a native Spaniard, do you have any good candidates for governor you might recommend to me?"
Carlo, for the moment, had no particular individual he trusted enough to appoint to such a significant position. The power of a colonial governor was considerable, encompassing military command and administrative oversight, accountable only to the King.
A new colony would naturally require a stationed army, and controlling the governor's appointment effectively meant controlling this colonial force. It was precisely because Carlo lacked a truly trustworthy candidate that he decided to leverage the governorship for a strategic exchange of interests with Prim. He trusted Prim relatively well; the Prime Minister pursued present power, while Carlo sought future power, ensuring no major conflict between their ambitions.
Prim understood that the colonial governorship was a direct royal appointment. Carlo's direct query indicated either immense trust or, more likely, a desire to exchange this prestigious position for other political capital. But what kind of interests did Carlo wish to acquire? Prim was momentarily at a loss.
"Let's continue discussing the results of our action. How much in reparations can we expect?" Carlo smoothly changed the subject.
Hearing the shift, Prime Minister Prim quickly replied, "A total of 75 million pesetas in reparations, Your Majesty. Our diplomatic representatives haggled fiercely, but the British wouldn't budge beyond that figure."
"That's not bad, Mr. Prime Minister." Carlo was quite satisfied with the amount. 75 million pesetas, roughly 2.88 million pounds, represented a significant boost for Spain's ongoing reforms and development. Coupled with low-interest loans from Italy, Spain would largely avoid funding shortages for development in the coming years. Furthermore, these 75 million pesetas were effectively free money, given that Spain's war expenses against Morocco barely exceeded a million pesetas.
"With this funding, can our industrial construction also be put on the agenda?" Carlo asked, recalling the new industrial zone project that had been postponed due to a lack of funds.
"Of course, Your Majesty." Prim's face lit up again, clearly holding great hope for the success of Spain's reforms and industrial growth.
"That's truly good news." Carlo smiled and nodded, his expectations for Spain's burgeoning strength also high. "But our education must not be neglected either. I hope that while our Industry Development Five-Year Plan is successfully completed, we can also reduce the domestic illiteracy rate to below 55%."
Reducing the illiteracy rate from over 70% to below 55% might seem like a mere 15% decrease. However, for a Spanish population exceeding 16 million, it meant that at least 2.5 million illiterate people would need to achieve a cultural level equivalent to primary school or higher. While a large-scale literacy campaign had already begun, the task of educating over 2 million people in less than five years remained incredibly challenging. After all, the Spanish Government's main focus remained on reforms and industrial development; although education was valued, its overall funding was comparatively modest.
"I will work hard, Your Majesty," Prime Minister Prim nodded. He understood the vital importance of education for national development, but the practicalities in Spain at the moment were complex.
A true reduction in illiteracy could only be achieved if the literacy campaign ran parallel with a significant increase in national income. If ordinary Spaniards couldn't even get enough to eat, who would have the leisure or motivation to receive an education? This meant that for the illiteracy rate to drop significantly, the average annual income had to effectively rise; it could not be solved by simply pouring funds into education alone.
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