The reported statements of King Juan Carlos of Spain
in the 1980s that his country did not really want Gibraltar back because it
would add pressure on handing over Ceuta and Melilla to Morocco has the right
in our neighbouring country on the run.
The last thing Rajoy and those of the Gibraltar
Español clique want is any linkage between their claim over sovereignty of the
Rock and Morocco’s demand for Ceuta, Melilla plus the numerous islands such as
Perejil to be handed over to Rabat.
So it is not surprising that Europa Sur should carry
an article on Saturday dismissing any similarity between Gibraltar and the
North African enclaves. Penned by Quino López it may also have appeared in
other newspapers belonging to the Joly stable.
The key part of López’s article is: “La
recurrente comparación no tiene fundamentos jurídicos ni históricos El Peñón
fue español hasta 1704, mientras que las ciudades autonómas jamas pertenecieron
a Marruecos.”
It is
true that Ceuta and Melilla were never part of the Moroccan State but neither
are they an integral part of Spain, they are not even in the same continent.
However to say “El Peñón fue español hasta 1704” is also very misleading to say
the least.
Now I
am no historian so if you are and I have any facts here wrong then feel free to
shout. As far as I understand it until 711, when the Moors took over Gibraltar,
it had passed through many hands, Greeks, Romans and Visigoths. Hence up to
that point in time it was no more part of Spain than the enclaves were part of
Morocco.
The
Moors held Gibraltar till 1462. However Spain seemed rather unenthusiastic
about making it part of its realm and it floated around various owners till
1501 when it reverted to the Spanish Crown.
So pre
711 Gibraltar was not Spanish. Between 711 and 1462 it was held by the Moors
who came across the sea from what now is Morocco, so they held if for 751
years. It was only truly Spanish between 1501 and 1704 and in 1713 Spain signed
it away “in perpetuity”. Hence Gibraltar was Spanish for either 203 or 212
years. Since 1704 it has been British so this year it has been non-Spanish
again for 310 years.
So let
us look at that again. Pre 711 various rulers, 751 years in the hands of the
Moors, 203 or 212 ruled by Spain and 310 years British and now Gibraltarian
too. Now I am no more a mathematician than I am a historian but if anybody has
an historic claim to Gibraltar it is the Moors and if they don’t then the Brits
and Gibraltarians certainly do. In last place comes Spain.
Now
because I am mischievous and given our good relations with our neighbour across
the Strait, many of whose citizens happily reside here, I would say yes let’s
go for joint sovereignty – with Morocco. With Britain and Morocco on our side
what chance then of Rajoy and Margallo trying to destroy Gibraltar the nation?
Can you
imagine the anger and consternation in Madrid if the people of Gibraltar
decided to embrace Morocco to partner Britain in guaranteeing the Rock’s future
and its security?
It will
never happen of course but it doesn’t stop me enjoying the thought of Spain’s
response. Meanwhile the Gibraltar Español clique will continue to argue its
flimsy case in the hope the world will be fooled and that it will gain
Gibraltar and hold on to Ceuta and Melilla.
Dream
on, dream on! The way things are going its not winning territory that should be
occupying Rajoy’s mind but rather holding on to what he has got. The stampede
to leave his State by the Catalans and indeed the Basques is getting underway
in earnest. I shall come to that tomorrow.
