By
Dr Michael Willis
During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1795-1815),
relations between Britain and Morocco became exceptionally
important. The security of Gibraltar was crucial to British
seapower, and Morocco regarded Britain as an ally against
the threat of invasion from France or Spain. During the 19th
century, Britain was Morocco's most important commercial and
political partner. Morocco imported cloth, iron, arms, china,
tea, coffee, sugar, chocolate, tin and paper from British
merchants, and exported cattle, mules, beeswax, honey, silk,
leather, ivory and ostrich feathers. Britain remained Morocco's
main export market and its main source of imports until 1912.
Because of its interests in Gibraltar, Britain was anxious
for Morocco to remain independent. Britain's policy, according
to a document of 1845, was 'to exert ourselves to the utmost
in assisting to uphold the authority of the Sultan and to
arrest every incident which might threaten it with fresh danger'.
In 1824 Sultan Moulay Abderahman declared that Britain had
been Morocco's best friend for many years. The General Treaty
and Convention of Commerce and Navigation, signed in 1856,
effectively gave Britain 'most favoured nation' status in
Morocco.
A remarkably close British-Moroccan relationship developed
under two successive British Consuls-General, Edward Drummond-Hay
(1829-45) and his son Sir John Drummond-Hay (1845-86), both
fluent Arabic speakers. They mediated on Morocco's behalf
during the 1840s with other European countries such as Spain,
France, Denmark and Sweden. In 1849 and 1858, they arranged
for ships of the Royal Navy to transport the Sultan's sons
to Mecca for the Hajj. In 1861, they helped to negotiate the
Spanish evacuation of Tetouan. Military co-operation also
flourished. Moroccan officers were sent for military training
to Gibraltar and Britain in 1875-76, and a British soldier,
known as Kaid Mac lean, was engaged by the Sultan in 1877
to help to train Morocco's army.
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