The Treaty of Fez and the French Protectorate

The Establishment of the French Protectorate in Morocco

The formalization of the French protectorate in Morocco was cemented with the signing of the Treaty of Fez on March 30, 1912 [7]. This treaty, modeled after the 1881 Treaty of Bardo that established the protectorate in Tunisia [7], marked a significant shift in the governance of Morocco, with the French government empowered to introduce administrative, judicial, and military reforms [7]. The treaty was the culmination of European powers’ competition for influence over Morocco, as seen in the Algeciras Conference of 1906, where the Act of Algeciras placed Morocco under European financial and military control.

The Role of the Resident-General

At the helm of the French administration in Morocco was the Resident-General, with Hubert Lyautey appointed as the first to hold this position on April 28, 1912 [6]. The Resident-General served as the sole intermediary between the Sultan and foreign representatives [7], effectively controlling the flow of communication and influence. This role was pivotal in the implementation of the ‘Dual System’ or indirect rule under Lyautey, where traditional Moroccan hierarchies, including the Sultan and the Makhzen, were maintained as a façade for French colonial governance.

Administrative Reforms and the ‘Dual System’

The ‘Dual System’ was characterized by the coexistence of traditional Moroccan administrative structures alongside French-controlled institutions. The French Resident-General held supreme powers of the state, while the Sultan’s role was largely ceremonial, with the Makhzen acting as the ‘theatrical’ structure to minimize indigenous resistance [7]. This system allowed for the preservation of the religious status and traditional prestige of the Sultan [7], while the French authorities drafted or proposed decrees (Zahirs) issued in the Sultan’s name.

Territorial Administration and Development

The French administration divided Morocco into regions under central authority, known as Bled el-Makhzen, and those that were not, referred to as Bled es-Siba [9]. The focus of development, termed ‘Maroc utile’ (Useful Morocco), was on coastal plains and mineral-rich areas like Khouribga [7], reflecting the French interest in exploiting Morocco’s natural resources. The capital was moved from Fez to Rabat to distance the administration from the volatile traditional elite [9], and Tangier was granted a special international status separate from French and Spanish control [6].

Economic Reforms

Economic reforms included the replacement of the Moroccan Rial with the Moroccan Franc in 1921 under the new financial administration [9]. This move was part of broader efforts to integrate Morocco into the French economic sphere, facilitating the exploitation of Moroccan resources and the imposition of French economic dominance.

Sources

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_conquest_of_Morocco [7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_conquest_of_Morocco [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_protectorate_in_Morocco [10] Miller, Susan Gilson. (2013). A History of Modern Morocco. Cambridge University Press. p. 112. ISBN 9781139619110.