page_title: Théodore Steeg
section_title: Algeria (1921–1925)
hierarchical_section_title: Théodore Steeg / Political career / Algeria (1921–1925)
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Lucien Saint en 1930, lors de la foire de Meknès
context_page_description: Théodore Steeg was a lawyer and professor of philosophy who became Premier of the French Third Republic.
  Steeg entered French politics in 1904 as a radical socialist, although his views were generally moderate. He was a Deputy of the Seine from 1904 to 1914 and Senator from 1914 to 1944. At different times he was Minister of Higher Education, Interior, Justice and Colonies. In the 1920s he was in charge of the colonial administrations first of Algeria and then of Morocco. He encouraged irrigation projects to provide land for French colons at a time of growing demands for political and economic rights from the indigenous people, accompanied by growing unrest. Steeg was briefly prime minister in 1930–1931.
context_section_description: Steeg was appointed governor-general of Algeria on 28 July 1921 at a time when the colony was in crisis.
  Muslim Algerians had fought for France in the trenches and now expected political rights. 
  The Jonnart Law of 4 February 1919 had granted less than the Muslims wanted, but more than the French colons could readily accept.
  In April 1922 President Alexandre Millerand visited Algeria to calm the fears of the French colons about the growth in numbers of Muslim electors, and to assure them that France would continue to protect their interests. The prefect of Algiers did not want the influential Emir Khalid ibn Hashim (1875–1936) to present his position, but Steeg overrode him. Khaled told Millerand, "The inhabitants of Algeria without racial or religious distinction are equally children of France ... We come to solicit representation in the French Parliament."
  Steeg was able to reduce the tensions and initiate a stable period of economic growth.
  As a Radical, Steeg was committed to benevolent civilian administrations in the colonies. However, Steeg inherited a system in Algeria where the local settler assemblies dominated by wealthy landowners controlled taxation and spending. 
  There was a tendency to favor spending that boosted the economy over spending on social projects. When Steeg resubmitted the 1914 plan for an asylum at Blida, the assembly delayed approval of funding.  
  Steeg was able to initiate major irrigation projects to improve agricultural productivity, a policy he would later repeat in Morocco.
  He became known as the "water governor".
  Steeg supported cooperation between Algerian and French West African (AOF) forces in combating rezzous (Tuareg raids) in the western Sahara, a constant source of insecurity that prevented development of north-south transport routes. 
  In February 1923 he met in Algiers with his counterparts Marshal Hubert Lyautey of Morocco and Lucien Saint of Tunisia to discuss common problems. They agreed that the western Sahara must be treated as a whole, ignoring arbitrary boundaries.
  Nomadic migration across borders would be allowed but smuggling would not. 
  A joint Algerian-Moroccan police force would operate from a base at Forthassa Rharbia.
  On 17 April 1925 Steeg was unexpectedly called back to France to become Minister of Justice in Painlevé's second cabinet.
  Painlevé needed left-wing politicians such as Steeg, Briand, Caillaux, Monzie and Laval in his cabinet so he could gain support for his program, which was essentially conservative.
  Steeg was succeeded in Algeria by Viollette.
caption: Lucien Saint was Resident General of France in Tunisia from 1921 to January 1929, when he replaced Steeg in Morocco
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