Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-09-27

In all the American discussion Of
French conditions, discussion which
Is inevitable just now in view of the
debt negotiation. there is In certain
quarters tendency to do something
less than justice to the French in
the matter of Morocco. Thus, it is
asserted that the very fact that
France Is carrying on an expensive
war against the Riffs is an evidence
either Of French financial strength
or OF n refusal to take an obvious op-
portunity to retrench by abandoning
this operation. Moreover, in certain
other quarters one meets the assertion
that save as a matter of prestige the
Moroccan venture Is sheer waste, I'M
profitable imperialism.
OF course 1t Is unfair to begin with
the assumption that because ma
ton is heavily financially involved it
must abandon the defense of its in
terests. AT the close of the Civil War
the United States was in a frightful
financial situation, yet it did not hest
tate to mobilize a large army and
make perfectly clear to Napoleon Ill
that he must withdraw his support of
the unsel empire Of Macmillan in
Mexico, or we should take up arms.
Neither debt nor any other considera-
ton was permitted to interfere with
the protection OF what we regarded
as vital interest.
~
The French situation is somewhat
analogous. France landed in North
Africa almost century ago. Since
that time she has created one of the
most fiourishing of colonial establish
ments, which was extended to Tunis
in 1881 and to Morocco in 1911. With.
In this territory she has settled up
ward OF a million Europeans, con.
structed railways and highways Casa
blanca, her great port in Morocco, for
example, fs today a city Of upward of
100000 Inhabitants, half Of them Eu-
ropean, with a magnificent new har.
Dor, splendid buildings and q rapidly
expanding railway net.
Inevitably the organization of
French rule In Algeria, in Tunis and
now in Morocco has been accom-.
panied by native rebellions. Our own
experience in the Philippines and in.
Vulnerable British experiences have
demonstrated that this is an ever
recurring phenomenon. The real con-
quest of Algeria covered several dec
AIDES, while the last considerable ma
tive rising following the F'ranco-P rus
sian War in 1870. Thereafter for more
than half a century there has been
peace and ever-mounting prosperity in
Algeria.
Were France to abandon her Mo
roccan venture, she would inevitably
lose Algeria and Tunis in due course
of time. because this unrnistakable
evidence Of her weakness would in
cite the victorious Moroccans to flow
over into the fertile and prosperous
regions Of Oran. In reality, to yield te
Abdel-Krim would be to abandon q
century of colonial effort which has
cost France billions Of dollars an6
thousands of lives. but has in the enc
proved a remarkably prosperous ven
ture, for today North Africa is one
Of the great French markets. More
over, one must recall that wher
France went to Algfers II was the
seat Of pirates. whose depredations
plagued all countries.
In addition, Morocco is by all odd,
the richest portion OF French NORTH
Africa Americans are sometimes mis-
led by the descriptions of the regior
in which the fighting Is actually TAX
| ing place into the belief that tn,
whole country is practically worth
less mountain territory. Nothing /.
less exact. The broad plains which
slope down to the Atlantic are in
credibly fertile, while the snow noun
tains supply unfailing water lacking
in both Algeria and Tunis. Agricul
turally rich. the country has also vas,
mineral resources.