1939: Morocco

Morocco, a territory of northwest Africa, is divided politically into French Morocco, Spanish Morocco, and the neutral territory of Tangier.

The Sultan of Morocco, Sidi Mohammet (proclaimed Nov. 18, 1927), is the nominal ruler of both the French and Spanish Zones. In the French Zone, however, his acts must be approved by the French Resident General, Gen, Albert Nogues, and in the Spanish Zone, his authority is delegated to a Khalifa, chosen by the Sultan from two names submitted by the Spanish government. The actual authority in the Spanish Zone is vested in the Spanish High Commissioner, residing at Tetuan, Col. Juan Beigbeder y Atenza.

French Morocco.

French Morocco comprises the greater part of the region extending from the Atlantic Ocean to Algeria and from the Sahara Desert on the south to the boundary of the Spanish Zone on the north. It comprises about 85 per cent of the area and population of all Morocco. The area is 162,162 sq. mi. The population in 1936 was 6,298,528 inhabitants, of whom 5,874,888 were native Moslems, 232,591 were Europeans, and 161,312 native Jews. The capital of the French Zone is Rabat. The principal industries of French Morocco are agriculture and stock raising. The chief crops are wheat, oats, barley, chickpeas, beans, linseed, olives, dates and fruits. Forests of cork trees, cedars, argan, arar, oaks, and various conifers are grown, and tizra wood is exported for tanning purposes. The most important mineral is phosphate of which 1,447,327 tons were mined in 1938. Other valuable minerals are lead, manganese, molybdenum, iron, tin, antimony, and zinc. Total imports in 1938 amounted to 2,126,835,000 francs; total exports to 1,502,262,000 francs.

Spanish Morocco.

Spanish Morocco occupies the territory bordered by the Mediterranean on the north, from Beshir to El Qsarel-Kbir, bounded south by French Morocco, east by Algeria, and west by the Atlantic Ocean. It has an area of 13,125 sq. mi., not including the small territory around Tangier which forms the neutral zone. The Spanish Zone has a population estimated in 1936 at 795,202 inhabitants of whom about 738,000 are native Moslems, 44,379 were Europeans, and 12,918 native Jews. Agriculture is the principal occupation in the territory, and is carried on in a primitive fashion. Iron ore and lead are mined, and tunny fishing and stock raising are important industries. Flour mills operate at Larache and Milille. Total exports in 1935 were valued at 26,178,393 pesetas, and total imports at 64,004,657 pesetas.

Tangier.

Tangier, the neutral zone, occupies a strip of territory covering an area of 225 sq. mi. on the southwestern coast of the Strait of Gibraltar adjoining Spanish Morocco. The population in 1936 was estimated at about 60,000 persons of whom 36,500 were native Moslems, 16,500 Europeans, and 7,000 native Jews. The Zone is administered by an International Assembly of 27 members, subject to the veto of a Committee of Control composed of the French, Spanish, Italian and British consuls. The native authority is vested in a Mendoub, who represents the Sultan. The European authority is exercised by an administrator, in 1938 M. Le Fur.

European Relations.

The end of the Spanish Civil War in March 1939 eased the relations between French and Spanish Morocco, which had been strained by partisan feeling throughout the conflict. On March 5, Resident General Nogues of French Morocco conferred in Paris with the military heads of French North Africa on the coordination of the colonial military forces. At the outbreak of the European War, French Morocco was mobilized. Owing to the anti-Soviet feeling among the natives of Morocco, the German pact with Russia, reported Aug. 31, increased the Moors' distrust of Germany and increased their loyalty to France. On Sept. 10, German goods in French Morocco were ordered confiscated and German aliens were interned.