Stopping a War/Chapter 7
7. Doriot Names the Causes of the War
Four reasons lay behind the French aggression against the Riff in 1924, Doriot specified them:
"1. A question of prestige. Marshal Lyautey has said
And later we will add there "The Unknown Soldier of Morocco."
that it was necessary to maintain our prestige by showing our power to Abd-el-Krim…
"2. We wished to get within our protectorate the rich tribes north of the Ouergha, including at least 40,000 persons, and line them up against the Riffs. We were trying to set up a conflict, on the frontier, between peaceful tribes…
"3. We wished to secure the fertile territories of this region in order to drive out the natives in a few years, or a few months, and turn their lands over to some of the big colonizing companies…
"4, The most criminal object of all—as clearly expressed in our press—was to deprive Abd-el-Krim of his food supply, and to bring about conditions of famine by this blockade."
Doriot then read from the Temps in order to establish his fourth point. There were objections and protests, but he insisted that the real cause of the Riff War was hunger resulting from the French blockade begun in 1924:
"You have spoken of Riff aggression. You should rather speak of a revolt of the tribes in the French Zone, backed up by the Riffs, whom you have tried to starve. The war is much less due to the action of the famished Riffs than to the action of those who have starved them. (Applause on the extreme left.)
"M. Chassaigne-Goyon.—Is such language permitted in the French Chamber?
"M. Desire Ferry.—You are defending the cause of Abd-el-Krim.
"Doriot.—As for you, you are defending your friends of the Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas, who are making profits out of these doings. (Cries from the centre and the right.)
"M. Bire.—This speech was written in Moscow.
"Vaillant-Couturier.—There has not been a colonial expedition in the course of which the same means have not been employed.
""Doriot.—We must admit that it is the French Government and the Resident General who must shoulder the responsibility for the existence of these conditions. …
"M. Bire.—You carry the responsibility of traitors!
"Doriot.—The opinion of the workers and the peasants will judge those who were not willing to discuss peace as responsible for the death of the soldiers who fall in Morocco. (Applause from the extreme left). The war is here as a result of your policies. …
"Already two war aims are clearly expressed in all the papers. The first is to destroy the independence of the Riff State.
"The example of this Moslem people which, after Turkey, and with little means, has actually succeeded in revising the treaties of the imperialists is too dangerous for the imperialists to tolerate. …
"That is one of the fundamental causes of your war.
"The second cause of the war is this: the Riff is rich. The mines furnish a tempting bait for our bankers. The Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas is already involved all through Morocco.
"M. Louis Rollin.—You would prefer that it should be an English bank? . . . .
"M. Ernest Outrey.—With what can we develop the colonies if not with capital? You would bring nothing but disorder. (Exclamations on the extreme left).
"Doriot.—There are, I repeat, three fundamental causes that take you into the Riff: one, a military cause; … one, a political cause, and finally an economic cause, much more important than the other two.
"The President of the Council, who is supported by a press which demands the punishment of the guilty and an exemplary treatment of the Riffs, might oppose his still-born pacifism to these manifestations. He exhibits it every Sunday in official ceremonies. (Applause from the extreme left.) But he will hardly have a chance to use it now as we are already engaged in negotiations with Spain for a joint offensive, and we shall doubtless decide to enter the Riff and pursue the Riffians to their homes.
"We shall see what the future will bring. In any case, you are accepting the tactics of the military supported by the bankers. …
"M. Pierre-Etienne Flandin.—M. Doriot, do you also suggest the abandonment of Tunis?
"Doriot.—We want Tunis to belong to the Tunisians. We do not want Tunis to go to Italy or to France. (Applause on the extreme left.)
"M. Le Mire.—And France to the internationalists?
You ask the way to the coal mines. There it is!
"M. Jacques Duboin.—France to the French, M. Doriot.
"Doriot.—Yes, France to the French, and not to American eapitalists—Morgan and the others, (Applause on the extreme left.)"