CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913 — Page 156

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should be properly kept up.

This object however they

And if

had no doubt would ulso be duly cared for.

at any future date the Light should not be properly kept up, it would then be time to consider whether

His Majesty's Government should offer to assist the

Moorish Government.

For the time being no pecuniary

assistance Was asked for or needed, and any offer of

help or interference might, by giving rise to jealousies

hinder rather than forward the completion of the work.

The apprehension suggested by Mr. Hay that the

Light might possibly be used hostilely as a Sigial Station

in case of war did not appear to the Board of Trade

to be of any importance.

Mr. Hay was accordingly informed that it was not

considered necessary for His Majesty's Government to

take any steps in the master for the time being.

On the 22nd March 1864 Sir J.D.Hay reported that

the Lighthouse erected on Cafe Spartel by the Moorish

Government was finished and the lantern ready to be

lit up.

The lightho se had been constructed by

the French Engineer Monsieur Jacquet and the LIRALOLs

opinion of the several British Naval officers, who had

visited the site was, that it was well selected,

and that the building had been admirably constructed.

The important position of the Lighthouse, occupy-

ing a site where vessels coming from the Atlantic could

Le signulled at a great distance and notice of their

upproach be given to vessels in the Straits or to the

fortresses of Tarifu and Gibraltar would in time of

Warrove of the greatest advustage to a belligerent

Power, who might happen to possess at such a crisis

a paramount influence over the Moorish Government.

Actuated by these considerations the Representa-

tives of the several Foreign Governments residing at

Tangier, and ore especially those of Great Britain,

France and Spuan, lade known to the Moorish Government

that arrangements must be entered into which would give

a Satisfactory guarantee to their respective Governments

regarding the neutrality of the persons employed at

the Lighthouse.

The views of the Mooris. Government were in per-

fect accordance with those of the Foreign Representa

tives at Tangier; tt tiley declared that, though they

willingly went to the expense of building the lighthor6€

for

and