Page:EB1922 - Volume 31.djvu/1037

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MOROCCO
985


the chief native leaders being 'Abd es Salam, 'Abd el Malek (grandson of 'Abd el Kader), and Raisuli, while El Hiba came N. to join them. In the Tadla, Moha u Said was simultaneously giving trouble. All these chiefs were in German pay. Military occupation was pushed forward by the French throughout 1916 and 1917, and many important posts established. The advance in the Gigu valley brought about the submission of practically the whole Tafilalt and, with the junction of several French columns on the Upper Muluya, isolated the Ghiata and Beni Waghrain in their mountain fastnesses. In May and June 1917, 'Abd el Malek was driven from Taza and forced to take refuge in the north On March 24, in the Sus, El Hiba's forces had met with a decisive defeat at Wijan, but he continued to receive encouragement from Germany until Oct. 1918. El Hiba died at Kerdus in the following spring, and his forces, under his brother, Merebbi Rebo, were finally dispersed by the baska of Tiznit. The Tafilalt was definitely occupied at the end of 1917, and a wireless station and aerodrome established. In Aug. 1918 the all-powerful Ait Atta of the district were stirred to revolt by a sherif, Si Moha Nifruten, but the rising was suppressed by April 1919, with the powerful aid of El Glawi, son of the deposed ex-vizir, basha of Marrakesh, who in Jan. brought 10,000 men across the High Atlas. (His brother, the Kaid el Glawi, also a loyal ally of France, had died in Aug. 1918.) In the N. intrigues and hostilities, still engineered by Germany, persisted through the early part of 1918.

In the autumn of 1919 the Beni Waghrain were stirred up by a new pretender, and the Seghrushen round Sifru by Sidi Raho. Two risings occurred in the Gharb, in the spring of 1918 and in Oct. 1920. This last was suppressed by the French occupation of the sacred city of Wazzan. Simultaneously the turbulent Ida u Tanan of the S.W. submitted. French rule was thus consoli- dated in all districts save the Middle Atlas, the Beni Wagh- rain stronghold.

In 1912 the territory occupied by the French was about 88,000 sq. km., in 1914 163,000 sq. km.; in 1921 France nominally occupied 235,000 sq. km., but exerted effective economic control over about 100,000 sq. km. only.[1]

In the Spanish zone, the lack of roads and the insecurity resulting from the anarchy and brigandage prevalent among the Rif and Jebala tribes retarded development. Fighting continued in both the eastern and western districts. In March 1919 a rising occurred N.E. of Fez, the remains of 'Abd el Malek's movement. In the W., Raisuli as protagonist, while affecting to serve the cause of Spain, and actually, in 1916, receiving arms and money from her, was really seeking to make himself quasi-sultan of N.W. Morocco. In 1916 he entrenched himself at Fonduk 'Ain el Jedida near Tetuan, and was driven thence only in Oct. 1919. The Tangiern-Tetuan road, which he had held, was thus reopened and the Anjera and Wad Ras tribes made their submission. A year later, however, there was fresh fighting with the Beni Huzmer and others, probably directed by Raisuli; Spanish troops from Tetuan then made a somewhat precarious entry (Oct. 14 1920) into the " forbidden city " of Sheshawan, and surrounded it by a ring of military posts. Troops advancing to join them from El Qasr were unable to reach Sheshawan, and had to fall back on their base at Laraish, leaving Raisuli free to operate from his mountain stronghold. In Nov. several attacks were made by the tribes on Spanish patrols and posts in the Tetuan-Sheshawan district, and it seemed at the close of the autumn campaign as if the more remote posts might need to be evacuated.

Administration and Finance. The outlines of the administrative organization in the French zone are to be found in the treaty of March 20 1912. There is on the one hand the Maghzen or Sherifian administration, and on the other the French administration of the protectorate. The resident-general has plenary powers; he pro- mulgates the decrees given by the sultan and is the only inter- mediary between the sultan and foreign Governments. The Maghzen includes the grand vizir and the vizirs (ministers) Justice and Public Worship, the Habus (religious endowments) and Domains the grand vizir being prime minister. Liaison is maintained between the Maghzen and the protectorate by the councillor of the Sherifian Government who is director of Sherifian affairs and is at the head of the technical services of control. French administration, under the high authority of the resident-general, is directed by the general secretary of the protectorate. The departments are: General Administration (Civil and Native Affairs), Finance, Economic Services (public works, agriculture, commerce and colonization, posts and telegraphs, etc.), Public Instruction and Public Health. Rabat is the administrative capital.

The French authorities supervise native administration through local bureaux de renseignements. In seven of the chief towns the old native council (Mejlis) had (1918) been reconstituted, to aid the basha in municipal government.

The protectorate at once started to restore the financial position of Morocco by the annual repayment of instalments of the public debt, and careful development of sources of revenue, such as the reformed tertib (agricultural tax). In 1919 the revenues were esti- mated at 102,440,000 francs, the expenditure at slightly less. In 1920 the long-standing difficulty of the double currency, then accentuated by the depreciation of the French franc compared with the Hassani peseta, was solved by the adoption of a local franc currency.

Population, It is now recognized that past estimates of the population of Morocco, based on acquaintance with the more popu- lous coast regions, were excessive; no statistics were obtainable up to 1920 for a great part of the interior, which seems to be very sparsely inhabited. The total native pop. is variously estimated at from 45 millions to 5,400,000, of whom about 3$ millions live in the French zone. The European pop. (1921) numbered about 100,000, of whom, two-thirds were French. Immigration ceased during the World War but in 1919 had begun again and in that year numbered about 10,000 persons, largely at Casablanca. The most densely peopled region is that of the Atlantic coast (Gharb, Huz, etc.). In 1917 the pop. (in round numbers) of 10 principal towns was:

Total

"Total " includes

Europeans

Jews

Fez

105,850

850

10,000

Marrakesh .

102,000

2,000

18,000

Casablanca

97,000

38,000

10,000

Tangier ....

52,000

11,700

12,000

Tetuan (1919)

40,000

1,000 (& garrison)

7,25

Rabat

37,550

9,700

3,800

Meknes . . . .

36,700

1,200

5,000

Mazagan .

21,630

1, 600

3,000

Mogador ....

19,000

600

9,5oo

Ujda

18,150

4,150

2,000

Saffi had then a pop. of about 20,000; Sallee of 18,000; Melilla, 40,000, of whom 17,700 were soldiers.

Economic Development. Despite the formidable hindrances created by the World War, the settlement and development of the French Zone proceeded steadily, the success of this " peaceful penetration " being in large measure due to the genius and popularity of Gen. Lyautey. The immigrants at Casablanca rose from 3,238 in 1911 to 29,755 i n I9'3; the war then caused a reduction, but in 1918 they numbered 22,140. Well-built European quarters have sprung up near the old towns; the ports have been improved, and a new port, Kenitra, on the Sebu, opened up. At Casablanca 24^ million francs were expended in 1919 in laying out new sites and in building. The amount of capital engaged in development schemes of various kinds was at the end of 1919 35 million francs. Railways have been extended, and a network of roads constructed, on some of which regular services of motor transport run. Anti-malarial and other hygienic measures have been adopted, and medical centres and travelling infirmaries set up; in 1917 these treated over 1,220,800 native patients. Native schools, teaching French, Arabic and Berber, and Jewish schools numbered 21,520 pupils in 1917. Agricul- tural and industrial enterprises (e.g. flour- and flax-milling) have been fostered, and scientific and antiquarian research prosecuted.

Harbour works were (1921) in construction at most of the ports: at Casablanca they included an inner harbour with two quays and a floating dock, and the construction of a great jetty, 2,100 metres in length (of which 1,240 metres were completed by 1921), to form an outer port. Mehediya has been superseded by Kenitra, lOj m. up river, which, with its extensive river frontage for quays, is the only port where lighters are not required. Its trade rose from 4 million francs in 1914 to 20 million in 1915; in 1917 it equalled that of Saffi and Mogador. A channel has been cut through the bar at the mouth of the Sebu. At Rabat, a cement bridge over the Wad bu Ragrag, to supersede the ferry to Sallee, was inaugurated Jan. I 1920.

In the Spanish Zone irrigation and cultivation have been attempted in the Selwan and Caret regions; the care of forests undertaken; schools and infirmaries established ; and a native police force organized at Melilla. Extensive harbour works were (1920) in progress at Ceuta and Laraish. The mines near Melilla have been worked by several companies. Military posts have pushed forward in the Muluya and Wad Kert regions. The expenditure for 1918 (exclusive of the expenses of the military occupation) was nearly 12 million pesetas, a deficit of 8j million pesetas having to be met by

  1. For the successive stages of the occupation see map in Piquet, Le Maroc, 1917.