Dear Friend, My cordial greetings,

Ever since you left Morocco to pursue from Paris your actions in support of the national cause, our country has regressed going from bad to worse. The militants are confused and find themselves at the very least in an unusual state.

Hence I thought to send this letter to you and to our friend and great patriot, Mohammed Ben Hassan El Wazzani, to clarify the difficulties we perceive that the national movement is encountering in today's circumstances.

Omar ben Abdeljalil

From the day where the national press was banned, the administration has seized every opportunity to cause harm to the patriots using all its capabilities to fight against them. Meanwhile the latter have not undertaken any productive action to allow the national movement to extract itself from this difficult phase to one which will help it move on.

We increased the number of meetings but have succeeded in coming up with only vague suggestions which will not lead to any meaningful or effective actions.

Allal El Fassi was banned from delivering any courses at the Karaouiyine (University). He arrived in Rabat and met with us. During this meeting a lecture was given about your letter in which you inform us that a strong protest was raised against this ban and that a revamp of our movement's order is necessary following this arbitrary measure.

A discussion ensued about the prospects of disseminating a communique to the people drawing attention to the unacceptable conduct of the Protectorate Authority towards to our movement as well as our condemnation of this oppressive policy. We would also draw attention to our wish to open the door to dialogue with the colonial power and their categorical refusal to make any move that could result in a policy of openness.

Our friend Mekki Naciri represented the faction opposed to the suggested communique supported by Ahmed El Yazidid and Allal El Fassi.

At the conclusion of the debate that unfolded with respect to this issue, it was decided to publish the communique and a commission was charged to prepare the text. However, within two days, the notion of a communique was put on hold indefinitely.

According to Mekki Naciri, we must first put the interior of our house in order before painting its exterior. As a priority his comment is sound as a starting point and could be adhered to by all self-respecting militants. But it raises several observations that must also be accounted for and taken into consideration.

The suggestion to first put our house in order will require an inordinate amount of time and it is untenable that our movement sit with arms crossed during the period this reordering requires.Additionally the rearrangement of the interior as one can envision is a matter of a theoretical concept that is incompatible with the (present) receptiveness and (level of) education of our people. Moreover our movement is of recent creation and can only be re-organized within the framework of a simple and flexible structure that would (only) later be able to move towards a more sophisticated organization. But the latter could only be achieved after time with a constant state of confrontation resulting in a variety of (tipping point) events and a firm resolution to keep moving forward.

As for our friend El Yazidi, it appears to be hesitating or to be more exact to be at a crossroads. He supports the ides of putting the interior in order but does not have his heart in it to make it happen. The same is the case with other comrades. So how long will these dilly-dallyings last?

I feel that they will continue (on and on) if we persist in seeing problems from a theoretical perspective and we will continue to ignore practical solutions to adopt to elaborate on a plan of action in favor of our movement and to apply to it our perseverance and to put the power of our resolve to the test. We must organize ourselves, determine the order of our responsibilities and proceed to the distribution of tasks in a manner so that we don't remain mobilized in the face of the waves of events which accelerate in cadence.

We must also think of actions that will help our people understand the meaning of life and to be aware of their incumbent role in the struggle we are engaged in for liberty. Our nation more than ever needs to nourish its spirit and feel blood coursing through its veins while understanding that life is an adventure with utmost danger.

I would like to understand your views as well as those of our friend El Wazzani. We have decided it useful after a long period of reflection to act when action is possible, after noting that the comrades are doing nothing, neither applying or rejecting any of the proposals we submit to them.

It is imperative that our hesitations and dilly-dallyings end. Otherwise we see ourselves forced to act without the support of comrades who have played an important role in the past on the patriotic stage. This is better than forever sitting with our arms crossed and doing nothing. Perhaps your viewpoint will bring some light on the path that we have decided to pursue.

In other words, we not accept in any manner to remain in the (present) situation in which we find ourselves. We wish to achieve what we believe is our duty. We reject procrastination which will not allow progress.

Poinceau has returned to France and we will not reap much benefit to our cause from his visit to Rabat. He will arrive in Paris and declare that Morocco is doing fantastic, better than Algeria or Tunisia.

Mohammed El Yazidi - October 1932

Mohammed ben Hassan Al Wazzani (center) - On his right: Mekki Naciri - Photograph taken in the early 1930's