French policy towards Morocco (1912--1918)

Abstract

The Maghreb is an important country, because of its strategic importance distinguish it from the rest of its neighboring countries, as it lies on the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and demonstrated through colonial rivalry for control, as these ambitions date back to very long decades appeared at the beginning The geographical exploration carried out by Portugal and Spain, all this in order to obtain the sources of wealth owned by that country.

France was one of the most enthusiastic European countries to include Morocco for strategic reasons, and these factors paved the way for imposing its hegemony on important parts of the Mediterranean, as France originally existed and occupied areas of strategic and economic importance, and the Sultan became under the mercy of French aspirations, and France demanded Morocco has entered into negotiations and concluded an agreement regarding the imposition of French protection, and has taken the necessary measures for this task, as it worked on drafting the provisions of the treaty, in line with its expansionist colonial interests, and the French government authorized the tasks of negotiations with Morocco Renu its delegate in Tangier and at the head of a mission that includes a number of Diplomats, politicians and military personnel, and the talks began with Sultan Abdul Hafeez on the twenty-sixth of March 1912 AD, the Sultan was forced to sign the treaty sometimes by enticing and threatening again and signed the treaty on the thirtieth of March 1912 AD, France pledged under the treaty to recognize the Sultan of Morocco, the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its commitment to protect The Sultan is free from any external threat or danger in exchange for his agreement to the occupation of any region in Morocco by the French forces Legalized its occupation and expansion in Morocco The protection institutes were nothing but an inevitable result of a series that went through several stages through concessions, agreements and consular protections. In the end, these interventions led to the subjugation of Morocco and the imposition of French protection on it.

         After the signing of the treaty, the countries of Morocco went through a severe anger that started from Fez and included other cities. At that time, hundreds of soldiers were killed in the city of Fez alone.

France was one of the countries that had the same aspirations in controlling that country, which proved its foothold in it and then began to expand on neighboring countries. France worked to impose a colonial policy to achieve its interests and make Morocco a subsidiary of France in all fields. In order to achieve its objectives to abolish the sovereign ministries in Morocco, such as foreign affairs, finance and war, the presence of the Moroccan government has become a formal form and France has the actual authority, and was at the head of the general resident with wide powers and authorities, and the Sultan has only to issue decrees.