Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-27
America and IsIom

AAc OulIdu OI MOTOCCO'S COr0ldl
message Of friendship to President
Roosevelt is Of more than local sig
nlflcance. 1t comes as merely one
OF several tokens of amity from other
parts OF the Mohammedan world.
And those friendly gestures, in turn,
spring from a well-considered policy
on the part of our State Depart
ment aimed at enlisting the friendly
cooperation OF the Moslem peoples.
Such a policy is based on solid
foundations. Throughout the Islamic
world, stretching from Morocco to
China and embracing some 250,0OO,-
600 of the faithful, the United States
enjoys a unique distinction. Mos
lens feel no fear of our imperial
istic aggression. as they do toward
the other Western powers, while
multifarious philanthropic and edu-
cational enterprises financed and
directed by Americans have won
widespread gratitude and affection
for us as individuals and as a people.
Nowhere did Americas entry into the
war have more profound impact
than on the Islamic lands. 1t did
much to negative Axis propaganda
and incline Moslems to look with
favor on victory of the United
Nations. Now, our dramatic and
successful military intervention in
North Africa has further impressed
the ISlamic world with our armed
might, which Oriental peoples al
ways respect.
Though, to the outer world, the
Sultan Of Morocco may seem little
more than puppet in the hands Of
the French authorities, he is very
much parsonage in the eyes of his
own people. Morocco is not French
colony. Technically, it is still an
empire ruled by sultan who claims
descent from Ali, son-in-laW of the
Prophet. This gives him a special
claim to the religious as we'll as the
political loyalty of his subjects, one
of his titles being Emir- alMuminin
or Commander of the Faithful The
oretically, the Sultan's authority eX-
tends over all Morocco, the native
populations of the Spanish Zone and
of neutralized Tangier being under
the immediate jurisdiction of Khali-
fas or deputies appointed by the
Sultan and acting in his name.
1t should be remembered that
Tunis, like Morocco, is technically
a protectorate under a native ruler
who combines spiritual and political
functions in his office Even in Al
geria, closely connected with metro
politan France and with a consider
able European population, the native
majority stands in many ways apart,
personal and domestic relations be-
ing regulated by Mohammedan law
American occupation of French
North Africa is the best possible re-
gime for harmonizing native and
European interests during this UNI
certain war period.
The wider repercussions Of Ameri-
can armed Intervention in North
Africa already are plainly visible
throughout the Near and Middle
East. The Prime Minister of Iraq
has replied as cordially as the Sui
tan of Morocco to President Roose-
velt's assurance that the United
Nations will prosecute the war with
ever-increasing power" and are
proud to feel that we have the
sympathy and cooperation of Iraq
and of all the Arab peoples"
Turkeys neutrality is becoming more
benevolent" towards US with every
passing day. There is even a posi-
bility that the strong Moslem minor
ity in India may be constructively
Influenced by American diplomacy.
These imponderables perhaps cam
not be definitely evaluated, but they
are important factors in the general
picture. And they are strongly in
our favor.