This article is reproduced from Volume II, pages 104 onwards, from the book by Abou Bakr Kadiri titled "Said Hajji". It is not dated but information contained in the introduction, in particular the start of hostilities during the previous summer, allow one to conclude that the article was published in the newspaper "Al Magrhib" between the latter part of 1939 or soon thereafter.

The war which erupted in Europe last summer continues to be a firestorm and bloodbath with no outlook on when it will end. It is evident that this war, like all wars before it, will have immediate and long term consequences whose beginnings are already being brought forth by political and socio-economic statements from the states directly or indirectly involved in the conflict. With respect to the short term impact, we note a sharp rise in pricing, shortages of basic products and in particular foodstuffs and the total absence of secondary products. Morocco has not been spared as judged by sharp spikes in pricing and stoppage of imports and exports, the aftermaths of the economic blockade. At this juncture in the war between the belligerent states, there is no hope that commerce will resume anytime soon. The economic stagnation caused by the war can be seen throughout Morocco.

But Morocco also faces a crisis due to poor morale that is of its own doing. This crisis pertains to the stagnation which impacts its intellectual market. If your curiosity brings you to one of our bookstores you will note there as well the aftermaths of war. You will not find any recent books, newspapers or magazines from the Middle East, originating from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and all other countries of the Arab world which used to fill the shelves of our bookstores. Our ties with the Arab world have slackened to the point of being almost nonexistent so that we find ourselves totally unaware of their intellectual and political progress. The educated persons no longer know who to turn to for guidance, the writings from Middle East being their basic intellectual staple. We find ourselves today in exceptional times which will not last forever and sooner or later will be followed by a return to normalcy. But do we have any idea how long this will last?

(So far) Morocco has been able to overcome a series of obstacles and was able to resolve most of the difficulties posed by the ongoing war. Thanks to rationing it has shielded its populace from famine, in contrast to a number of countries who are only two fingers, if not less, away from the brink. Wheat, which is the mainstay of the Moroccan diet, has not seen a huge price increase as is the case elsewhere. Meat is available in sufficient quantities to meet their needs for a long time. A number of individuals and private sector companies have sought to make up for the import shortages by distributing locally produced goods. Without a doubt, thanks to its rich and fertile soil and an entrepreneurial private sector, Morocco could protect itself from the dire consequences of this war for as long as it lasts. This is one aspect where Morocco has found a solution to the impact of this international crisis. It pertains to our material well being.

But is this all that matters? What about the crisis in morale and the stagnation of our intellectual output? We are horrified to see the warehouses of books and newspapers look like empty hangers devoid of these publications with the exception of a few dismissible writings that try to fill the void. We can only be astonished that our intellectuals are not making any effort to fill the empty spaces created by the international crisis. Where are the (local) newspapers and magazines that are supposed to take the place of those no longer coming from the Middle East? Where are the Moroccan books that should garnish the shelves of our bookstores and contribute to the development of our minds? Where is the recovery of the Moroccan literary output that has been eclipsed by that of the Middle East? We see no signs of this. I am shivering, and all self respecting intellectuals would rightfully share my horror each time we think about this delicate matter. I question whether this situation will remain unchanged and if Moroccan intellectuals continue to enjoy being idle. What future intellectual endeavor are we saving our efforts for? What I fear most, more than fear itself, is that we are headed progressively from a state of sleep to a coma and then to a certain death. Then no resurrection is possible. Do our intellectuals have the will to fight the intellectual hunger by following the example of those who wage a fight against the hunger of empty stomachs?