Evening star., 1940-12-13

Nogues has maintained that pres
tige since his appointment in 1896
during the fierce economic-political
crisis and finally the disaster which
swept away the regime he repre-
sented.
Unemployment Reduced.
Nogues has reduced unemploy-
ment In Morocco to nothing and in
creased agricultural production,
and he enjoys the special affec-
tion OF the Sultan. On October 13
Sidi Mohammed, in welcoming Gen.
Maxine Weygand to Africa took oc-
casion to express his admiration of
Nogues. He spoke pointedly both
of his loyalty to France and the
close friendship that binds us to
Gen. Nogues."
On November 10, the 18th anniver-
sary of his accession, the Sultan ex-
pressed his confidence in the Wig
liant solicitude of France, which
will always know how to assure the
defense of our prestige and the
inalienable rights of our Empire" :"
This feeling he again expressed
few days ago when he entertained
for the first time John Campbell
White, retiring American diplomatic
agent at Tangier, accredited. as are
no others. to the Sherifian Empire
other Ministers" have only con-
Sular rank.
The Sutton has followed closely
the United States Government un-
obtrusive efforts to keep a foot in
the open door guaranteed by the
treaty of Algeciras and it's protests
against Gen. Frances occupation of
the International Zone
Face Sharp, Yet Gentle.
Gen. Nogues is short and thin,
his face sharp and yet gentle At
64 he is grayer than Gen. Weygand,
save for his striking black eye
brows.
What Gen. Weygand told you
goes for me, too" he said. I'VE
have said that we will defend our
Empire. No one will set foot in
Morocco"
When Gen. De Gaulles name was
mentioned his jaw tightened. He
declined, however. to discuss the
general British blockade or the
attitude of Gen. Franco, who. ac-
cording to the best authorities here,
has eight of his best divisions.
approximately 10000 men, in the
Spanish Moroccan zone.
Nogues did talk about the success
OF his efforts to increase agricultural
production. needed by France now as
never before. his efforts to introduce
new cultures, such as cotton and lin
seed, and the steps taken to meet the
shortage of gasoline. Two thousand
:gasogenes,' which convert charcoal
into Serviceable gas, are built or be-
ing built, and the wines produced in
North Africa. millions of gallons. are
being burned to make alcohol fer
use in motors.
No knowledge of Negotiations.
The resident general disclaimed
any knowledge of reported negotia-
tions between Washington and Vichv
to allow shipments of gasoline and
sugar via Martinique.
He laughed, but said nothing when
your correspondent told him how. eft
Lisbon, he had been given passage
on Portuguese coastal vessel, the
Maria Joanna, 300 tons gross. with
a cargo of contraband sugar for
Casablanca. 1t seems the British
were to wink at the Maria Joanna
They winked, all right, when at
night in wild seas warship sudden
ly flashed Morse 'neave to" and
sent aboard an armed guard to take
the Maria Joanna to Gibraltar.
where ship and sugar were held and
only your correspondent was politely
placed on boat for Tangier.
L'Echo de Tangier, a French news
paper, accuses the British of trying
to play politics in Morocco with
sugar and believing in the old saw
"Yod can hold the Arabs only with
sugar In the Spanish zone Brit
lsh relief, principally in tea and su-
gar. is being distributed with leaflets
in Arabic telling that all this comes
through the generosity of Britain
1t is true that some sugar ships are
really winked at.
Gen. De Gaulle's name is rarely