After months of negotiation the representatives of the three Powers concerned were on the point of signing the convention in 1914, when the World War broke out, and the Spanish Govern ment refused to sign. No doubt Spain preferred to await the re sults of the War before she definitely signed away her hope of one day possessing Tangier herself.
Tangier, like the rest of Morocco, was little affected by the War. During that whole period there was but one incident of importance, the expulsion of the German and Austrian charges d'affaires and the personnel of their legations. The international isation of Tangier rendered it doubtful what steps the Allied Governments would take on this question, but the sultan of Morocco, under whose direct jurisdiction Tangier lay, was him self an Ally and the Governments interested did not hesitate to act. At the conclusion of the War Europe was too occupied to give thought to Tangier, and the policy of obstruction con tinued, to the lasting detriment of the place. Peace was seldom disturbed, though the fighting in the neighbouring Spanish zone impeded trade and closed the roads.
The Statute of 1923.—It was not until 1923 that the question of Tangier's future was once more taken into active consideration. The situation had now changed. France's position had become stronger since the sultan had recognized her protectorate. The British Government was, however, still determined that an in ternational form of government must be adopted, and Spain, having failed to benefit by the War, supported this demand. A preliminary conference in London in July 1923 failed to bring about any settlement. It served, however, as a useful exchange of views, and in the following October British and Spanish dele gates proceeded to Paris where the negotiations were continued. On Dec. 18, 1923, the convention was signed by the representa tives of France and Great Britain, and on Feb. 7, 1924, by Spain.
The new status of Tangier is based upon a charter of perma nent neutral internationalisation, under the sovereignty of the sultan of Morocco, who maintains his control over Moslem and Jewish Moroccan subjects. The sultan is represented by a high Moorish official, the mendoub. The administration of this town and its zone rests in the hands of an administrator and two assist ant administrators, who carry out the decisions of the legislative assembly, subject to their ratification by the committee of con trol. The convention laid down that during the first six years the chief administrator should be a French subject and his as sistants a British and a Spanish subject. After that period they should be chosen by the assembly. A French and a Spanish engi neer superintend the public works. The committee of control, con sisting of the consuls of all the Powers—except ex-enemy Powers —who signed the Algeciras Act has power, by majority decision, to veto the acts of the legislative assembly. The legislative assem bly consists of 26 members, chosen from the subjects of the Powers represented in Tangier and from the Moorish and Jewish population. The number of members representing each national ity is regulated by the local importance in population, trade and influence of the nationality in question. Clauses have been intro
duced into the convention and in the legal codes for progressive modifications at specified periods of time should modification be deemed necessary or advisable.
Regulations were made for the formation of a force of gen darmerie but not put into practice. The special legal codes are, however, in force and justice is administered in mixed courts by judges of different nationalities. The Muslim and Jewish subjects of the sultan have their own tribunals. The status was officially introduced in June 1925 and has made very tolerable progress. Its application was rendered difficult by the fact that neither the Italian nor the American Governments had accepted its condi tions, and that the subjects of those two Powers were therefore not amenable to its laws or ordinances. During the summer and autumn of 1927 the French and Spanish Governments were in negotiation for certain changes in the status, following a demand from Spain for a more prominent part in the local government.
These small changes in the regime were of no real importance and appear to have been accepted as a sort of compromise, no solution having been found to the more important aspects of the question—Tangier's financial burdens, or its relations with the neighbouring Spanish zone. The reorganization of the mixed court and the revision of the code, which were also advised by the conference, would have come about in the ordinary course of affairs, and were certainly advisable.
Tangier continued in a state of stagnation. Its trade showed no increase; and, except for a little more cleanliness in its streets, few changes took place. The construction of the port continued, and the railway to Rabat and Fez was opened, but there was very little amelioration to report in the situation.