Capture of Morocco by France

At the end of the XIX century there was an increased European penetration into Morocco. Commercial and industrial companies in Spain, Portugal, France, the UK have significantly expanded their positions in the Moroccan market. The ruling circles of France believed that Morocco “naturally” refers to the zone of French interests in North Africa. By the end of the 19th century, the French had created an extensive network of native agents there, which was virtually beyond the control of the Alawite court. The Madrid Convention of 1880 legally harmonized the claims of European powers and the United States on surrender rights in a sheriff state.

In 1904, Great Britain and France signed an agreement that laid the foundation for the Entente. These two countries, "exchanging" the right to intervene in the affairs of Egypt and Morocco, actually planned the division of the territory of the sheriff state: according to their agreement, the north of Morocco went to Spain, other territories to France, and Tangier was recognized as an international zone. The inexperience of Moulay Abd al-Aziz in diplomatic affairs allowed the French to hope for an early accession of the weakened Moroccan sultanate to the French possessions in the Maghreb.

On March 31, 1905, German Kaiser Wilhelm II unexpectedly visited Tangier , where he resolutely announced his intention to defend German interests in Morocco. A tense diplomatic struggle resulted in the first “Moroccan crisis” partially resolved at the 1906 Algeciras Conference . At the end of lengthy negotiations, Germany was forced, in essence, to recognize the French plan for "mastering the sultanate." Although formally the General Act of the Algeciras Conference declared the independence and integrity of the Sheriff Empire, already in 1907 the French troops, and then the Spanish army, began the direct occupation of Moroccan territory.

The landing of European troops caused an extremely painful reaction among the majority of the Muslim population of Morocco. In August 1907, one of the sultan’s brothers, Abd al-Hafid , proclaimed himself the ruler of the faithful Moroccans and the leader of jihad . After an annual rivalry with the government of Moulay Abd al-Aziz, the tribes that supported Hafid were able to defeat the supporters of the Sultan. On August 23, 1908, Abd al-Aziz was forced to transfer power to Abd al-Hafid, fled the country and retired from political affairs. In 1909, under pressure from the French, the new Sultan Abd al-Hafiz was forced to recognize the terms of the Algeciras Treaty.

Assuming that France’s actions violate the provisions of the Algeciras General Act, the German government sent the Panther gunboat to the shores of Morocco in June 1911. The Panther Leap almost became a pretext for starting a world war. Only the concession of part of the possessions of France to the Congo prompted Germany to compromise and draw up a Franco-German agreement on the fate of the sheriff’s state.

Having neutralized the German competitors, the French authorities began to formalize their dominance in the country. On May 30, 1912, in Fes, Sultan Abd al-Hafid was forced to sign a protectorate agreement under pressure from the authorities. He retained the throne and the external attributes of power, but his rule acquired a purely nominal character. In the Spanish zone in the north of the country, the governor of the Sultan was subordinate to the Spanish High Commissioner, the rest of Morocco was subordinate to the French resident general, who controlled the foreign policy, armed forces and financial system of the country.

The first general resident of France in Morocco was appointed General Liote . His consistent course, aimed at finding and educating the allies of the French authorities among the local elites, soon led to a conflict with Hafid, who tried to conduct an independent policy under the protectorate. Already in August 1912, through the efforts of Liote, this "uncomfortable" figure was replaced by the younger brother of the Sultan - Moulay Yusuf .

• "History of the East" (in 6 volumes). T.IV “The East in modern times (late XVIII – early XX centuries)”, book 2 - Moscow: publishing house “Eastern Literature” RAS, 2005. ISBN 5-02-018102-1