Page:Scott Nearing - Stopping a War (1926).pdf/23

 The system of blockhouses, the letter explains, was intended to hold back the enemy until the arrival of reinforcements. "These reinforcements were arranged for and ready either in Algeria, or in France. That is a secret of general mobilisation which has not been and must not be revealed."

The letter concludes with some comments on the difficulties which confront the French in view of the fact that the enemy territory, the Riff, lies within the Spanish zone.

The letter created a sensation. Its author immediately resigned as chief of Lyautey's staff. No denial of its contents ever appeared and it has been generally accepted as a correct statement of French imperial policy in Morocco—a policy of deliberate aggression based on military conquest. 

Again on June 23 Doriot, speaking in the Chamber, reiterated the position of the Communist Deputies. "If we were in power we would bring an immediate end to the French occupation of the colonies." M. Renaudel interrupted with a question as to whether he had correctly heard. Doriot retorted: "We shall arrive at power by the revolution. It will be a proletarian dictatorship. We shall proclaim the independence of the colonies, Algeria, Madagascar, and all the colonies will have free choice as to their form of government."

