French Morocco (pop. 9,000.000) is booming. Huge hydroelectric projects are transforming the barren land into a fertile country, new industries are drawing thousands of people into the cities. But a political conflict threatens to tear Morocco apart. The French, who govern with a firm colonial hand, offer administrative reforms. The Arab population demands full independence. The Arabs look to the U.S. American interest in Morocco as an Atlantic bastion (TIME, Feb. 19) has raised Arab hopes.
Arab faith in America goes back to November 1942, when the U.S. Army went ashore at Casablanca against Vichy
French opposition. Urged to flee, the...