FRENCH IN MOROCCO.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 20 July 1925, Page 7

FRENCH IN MOROCCO.

SUBSTA NTIAL BENKFITS MABK THE IB BULK. Restoration o? a lasting iH*'ac e and prosperity in Morocco hinges upon the continuance of the .trench protectorate, in the view of Dr. Arthur J. Audios s, professor of modern European liistoij at Tufts College, who lias himself tiavel led extensively in that territory. With respect to the present uprising, led bv Abd-el-Krim, me real issue, lie said, was that of Fiench civilisation against native barbarism. Substantial benches had already marked the French- rule, and there was everv reason to believe that the potential possibilities of the country had only been partially realised. l)r. Andrew s told a representative of the Christian Science Monitor. His long visit to Morocco m the late months ot 1920 Jett, him with the impression that the mineral resources have been virtually untapped. , . . , Dr Andrews holds the opinion that the French protectorate allowed a large decree of local autonomy, had preserved native traditions, and that, furthermere Ahd-el-Krim's operations were made’ possible largely through outside interests. „ . • •ff the smuggling or arms ami munitions into 'the Bilfian territory could have been effectively cheeked, one of the important contributing factors in the uprising would I believe have been' 1 ’removed, ’ he explained. •‘While perhaps neither government is officially involved m the.-e activities, it is likely that there is an organised effort in both Soviet Russia and in Germany, aiding the native rebels. The report is yet to i-e disproved that former German armv officers, who were at one time detained in Morocco. are actually assisting in the direction of Abd-cJ-Krinvs forces. . . ‘•To sav that Abd-de-Knm i s contending for any real liberty for his tribes is a misnomer for freedom. It would be a return to tnlml barbarism. one-man rule, a retardation to the develooment of the oountuv, and contrary, I feel, to the real desires of the majority of the natives. It would he a freedom to return to rfld raids and disorder., and not a freedom of organised government. “The man v constructive achievements which have followed the French occupation arc not generally appreciated. The engineering improvements in irrigation and buildings have been outstanding. the natives obtained tlieir first real unity from the French, and the rule throughout the tenure of the protectorate has not been oppressive. it has retained natives in the majority of offices, it has not sought to destrov native customs and traditions or place the stamp of a stereotyped civilisation on the people, and the French have built up their cities outside the. native communities. lhe Sultan still rules .with a French adviser. and the tribes which maintain allegiance to the Sultan at the same time accept the French control. it does not seem to me that North Africa i s canabe of significant development from within. and under the French influence Arabic culture is retaining its best.” The retention of Spanish Morocco on the part of the Madrid Government according to Dr. Andrews, is essentiallv for strategic purposes, the commercial advantage being onlv n secondary consideration. The French territory, however, is more fertile, and he believes, capable ot greater development.