Evening star., 1947-06-15


frica also has It's troubles, and the
he natives through their common
lislike of the European conqueror
md a common aspiration toward
Independence.
Stubborn Clash Due
Accordingly. the past generation
las witnessed the appearance Of
young Algerian" and young Tu-
lisian" movements, headed by
h-educated leaders who have
Imbibed western ideas of self-gov-
However, it is interesting
to note that their goal is not the
sreation of distinct Algerian and
runisian nations, but rather the
forging OF a larger North African
nationality, strongly Islamic In tone.
All this portends a stubborn clash
between an aroused North African
and the imperial power
Of France. For the gradiose struc-
ture of Frances African Empire
will fade like mirage OF the desert
unless North Africa be securely
held. And Frances hold on North
Africa can be sure only If and when
q majority of the population Is truly
French in spirit, II not in blood.
To that vital end, France has
wrought tirelessly for more than .
century, and much has been &C
Today, French North
Africa contains well over a mil
lion residents of European blood,
In large part perhaps Of Spanish
Dr. Italian descent, yet mostly loyal
French citizens. Within the bounds
If the Christian, European COM
Gallicization has sue
;eeded.
European Element Small
Yet the combined European ele-
nents form only a small minority
,eside the natives. Even in Al
seria, the French stronghold, the
European community numbers less
than 20 per cent of the total popu-
alton. And every attempt to con-
vert or disrupt the solid native
block has thus far failed. A gen.
Grafton ago there was much talk
of playing upon the traditional diff
rerences between Arabs and Berbers,
thereby weaving the latter away
from their co-rehgionists and over
10 French civilization. Today such
schemes have been tacitly aban-
doned. Instead, well informed
recognize, even when
they do not publicly admit, that
Arab and Berber are being welded
together as never before by the new
nationalist urge, compounded as
it is of Islamic fervor and antago-
nism to foreign rule.
Down to the late war, Frances
prestige and her military might
have been so great that armed re-
oellion was not even remotely pos
sible. But local anti-European
risings which took place after World
War I and again during the past
two years show the latent horrors
which a general native rebellion
would precipitate. And, on the
other hand, France would stick at
nothing rather than endure the
collapse of her African Empire and
witness the massacre Of a million
French citizens settled just across
the Mediterranean. Here, indeed,
rises the specter Of an eventual
ieath grapple, truceless and merci-
less on both sides.
Prestige High in Morocco
Naturally, the topic is rarely men
toned in the French press, the grue-
some subject being well-nigh taboo.
Yet qualified foreign observers have
long looked askance at the situation
even in Algeria; where French rule
is most solidly based. The gulf OF
mutual repulsion between Europeans
and natives (contemptuously re-
ferred to in French colonial slang
as "bicots") is wide and deep. In
Algeria, certainly, the French are
not looked upon as superior race.
The native often fears the French
official, but rarely respects him.
1t is noteworthy that in Algeria
there is no title of respect used by
natives when addressing Europeans,
such as "Sahib" in India or "Tuan"
in Malaga. Naturally, the French
10 not tSnst the natives, and have
neld down their political power by
coupling full voting rights with
adoption of citizenship requirements
that, to a Mohammedan savors OF
apostasy.
Strange though it may seem, 1t Is
IN Morocco, Frances latest North
African conquest, that French pres
tige has been highest and native OPP
position least organized. The reason
appears to be that Morocco is pro-
.ectorate rather than colony, skill
fully governed by exceptionally able
French officials. Also, local authority
mas been left largely in the hands Of
great feudal chieftains who may be
-econciled to French overlordship
20 long as their power over their
own retainers is not notably cur
Jailed.
Yet the Moors are proverbially
he proudest and fiercest Of all the
North Africans. The Ruff1an rebel
ion of quarter century ago showed
both the Moors' innate love Of free
iom and their tremendous fighting
power. The leader Of that rebellion,
which had both the Spaniards and
The French on edge was none other