Al Maghrib - June 25, 1937
The government which currently is in power in France is hardly any different from that which preceded it if only with respect to its fiscal policies. This is a second government of the Popular Front whose orientation everyone knows and for which all countries that depend on France value the predisposition of its men to resolve problems that arise in their bilateral relations. Problems that are resolved with the Hexagon in a spirit of mutual understanding and fruitful cooperation. All of these countries, with the exception of Morocco, have thus fulfilled some portion of their expectations and hopes. And yet, our country has been waiting for a long time for the Popular Front to come to power, hoping that its victory in the elections would allow it to dissipate the clouds of despair to which our compatriots have almost become resigned and to lift the curtain off this troubling situation.
Despite all the speeches we have heard and all the declarations made to us, our plight has so far seen only a minute change which hardly bears mentioning. With the nomination of Mr. Chautun to the head of the French government, the position for the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was conferred to a trustworthy man, known for his mastery of the affairs of his country and for always taking up the defense of the oppressed. This man is Mr. De Tessand who is an active member of the Support Committee for Moroccan grievances and who has since become known by all Moroccan administrations and organizations. And so with the advent of this Popular Front, we witness a reinforcement of our hopes which leads us to view the future with regained optimism. Under this current government we are not far from seeing fulfillment of those dreams which we have cherished previously without being able to make them a reality.
Henceforth Moroccans will experience the principles of the Republic which protects them, instead of remaining subject to the policies that always set them backwards and dug a deep ditch between them and a life of freedom to which they aspire. They all wait with impatience for the fulfillment of the urgent reforms drawn up in the Official Report of Grievances so that their country progresses, ameliorates its standard of living and rids itself of those obstacles that have stood in its way through policies with little concern to the collective and individual interests; policies that are ultimately not in the best of interests of France. They look forward to the removal of obstacles that have driven Morocco and Moroccans to the edge of material and moral bankruptcy to the point where they have become a people condemned to be forever bent over backwards under the crushing weight of ignorance, indigence and injustice.
With Mr. De Tessand at the head of the department in charge of Moroccan affairs, we renew our hope that the French government is getting ready to inaugurate a new era in this country, allowing the two parties to pull out a legitimate tribute of success and prosperity.
