Stopping a War/Chapter 10
10. French Imperialism Gives Itself Away
Once in a long time the secrets which imperialists whisper in one another's ears are shouted from the house-tops. This happened in 1917 when the Russian revolutionists published the secret treaties found in the files of the Tsarist Government. It happened again in June, 1925, when Doriot rose in the Chamber to read a letter written by M. Vatin-Perignon, chief of Marshal Lyautey’s personal staff at Fez, to M. Pierre Lyautey, nephew of the Marshal, living in Paris.
It was one thing to have a Communist Deputy describe the objects of the war and point out its causes. It was quite another to have these facts from the headquarters of the General in command on the Riff front.
The letter was dated May 25, 1925. It is reproduced in full in the Journal Officiel for June 28. The letter asserts that the French were not surprised by the Riff attack. On the contrary, "the Marshal was so well informed and had so thoroughly foreseen what was to happen, that, from January, 1924, on (see his reports to the government) he was preparing for war." Marshal Lyautey had built a line of blockhouses north of the Ouergha. These blockhouses served the double purpose of excluding the Riffs from the rich Ouergha valley and of forcing the French prohibition against trade between the valley and the Riff. These blockhouses were constructed "in May, 1924, while Abd-el-Krim, his attention taken up by the Spaniards, could not react. … This front was established on a strategic line … without striking a blow. After May, 1924, this front was reinforced, fortified, and its communications with the base secured by a system of roads, bridges, and railways."
Profit. . . . . . . .Loss!
The letter concludes with some comments on the difficulties which confront the French in view of the fact that the enemy territory, the Riff, lies within the Spanish zone.
"Either he will treat with us—but what will be the value of that for the future? Or he will continue to attack us, now on one point, now on another: which means a perpetual state of war. Or, in agreement with the other Powers, we can invade his territory, and that is a very big business (c'est une très grosse affaire.)"
M. Vatin-Pérignon concludes by stating that:
"The Marshal is entirely and fundamentally in agreement with the Government, and the latter is doing all that it can, all that it should. The duty of all good Frenchmen, who do not forget that our future in Morocco, that is to say, our future in the Mediterranean (Algeria, Tunis), is at stake, is to support the Government on this point with all their strength."[1]
The letter created a sensation. Its author immediately resigned as chief of Lyautey's staff. No denial of its contents ever appeared and it has been generally accepted as a correct statement of French imperial policy in Morocco—a policy of deliberate aggression based on military conquest.
- ↑ A pamphlet reproducing this letter and giving a full report of the debate in the Chamber is published by l'Humanité, 142 rue Montmartre, Pairs: Le Militarism Francais a l'oeuvre au Maroc; 5 cents.