CHAPTER III

THE FRANCO-SPANISH ENTENTE, 1898-1903

The close of the nineteenth century found Spain at one of the lowest points in her history. She was disorganized, isolated, defeated in 1898 by the United States; her navy was destroyed; her colonial empire was shattered. Spain was particularly embittered toward Great Britain, whose Premier had openly spoken of “moribund nations” with direct reference to her, and whose attitude during the recent war had been strongly pro- American.[101] Fearful that the British might seize a Spanish port,[102] M. Silvela, head of the Conservative government, with the approval of the Liberal leaders, early in 1899 determined upon a change of policy by which Spain would seek to bring about a secret defensive alliance with France, Germany, and Russia.[103]

The sympathy of those Powers had been on the side of Spain during the recent war. But when the Premier laid the plan before them,[104] the German government was encouraging but skeptical; the French government, dilatory; the Russian government seemed not to favor it and advised Spain instead to hold closely to France.[105] Nevertheless, during the next few years the Spanish government continued its effort to realize this program, particularly a Franco-German _rapprochement_.

One of the main objects of this grouping was the defense of Spanish interests in Morocco. In spite of Spain’s colonial losses in the war of 1898, her concern over the future of that Islamic land remained active. Spain claimed a special position with reference to it, just as France