Editing Spanish protectorate in Morocco (section)

===Background===
[[File:Firma del Tratado franco español de 1912.jpg|thumb|left|Moment of the signing of the Treaty by which the Spanish Protectorate was created, November 27, 1912]]

At a time when other European nations were acquiring or expanding their colonial empires, Spain's had generally gained independence. Its [[Spanish–American War|disastrous 1898 war]] with the United States stripped Spain of its few overseas provinces and exposed an inferior military. Yet, due to Morocco's proximity and the presence of [[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]], Spain eyed expansion in northern Morocco, despite an overall lack of enthusiasm for new colonial enterprises. During the last decades of the 19th century, Spain nervously watched the increasing influence of its European rivals in the Maghreb. Thus, ensuring Spanish security offered the most compelling reason to intervene. For example, Liberal leader [[Eugenio Montero Ríos|Montero Ríos]] argued that if northwestern Morocco were to come under French control, Spain would be vulnerable to France from both north and south. Furthermore, the discovery of iron ore near Melilla convinced many that Morocco contained vast mineral wealth.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chandler|first=James A.|date=1975|title=Spain and Her Moroccan Protectorate 1898 - 1927|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/260149|journal=Journal of Contemporary History|volume=10|issue=2|pages=301–322|doi=10.1177/002200947501000205 |jstor=260149 |s2cid=159817508 |issn=0022-0094|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The key motivation for intervention, although less openly stated, was the belief that Morocco was Spain's last chance to maintain its position in the [[Concert of Europe]], as it was the one area in which it could claim sufficient interest to generate some diplomatic strength with respect to the European powers. There was also the then-widespread belief in Europe that colonies increased a nation's prestige. Those beliefs encouraged Spanish politicians to adopt a [[forward policy]] in Morocco.<ref>James A. Chandler, p. 302.</ref>