Foreign News: Lyautey

France’s most successful colonial administrator put a period to his career. For the last 13 years Marshal Lyautey has been building up Morocco. He pacified the major portion of it, consolidated the French protectorate, made it pay its way, put tens of thousands of Moroccan soldiers on the Allied front during the War. Only in 1916-17, when he served as French Minister of War, did he cease temporarily to be an immediate personal power in Moroccan affairs. Last week, at 71, he retired as French Resident General in Morocco, left his command and its recent complications in the hands of Marshal Petain.

Behind the long expected retirement of Marshal Lyautey lies a wealth of conjecture.

The old Marshal himself is said to take satisfaction in the official version of the matter, which is that he has waited to resign his post until recent French successes have made the fruits of his early labors again secure. His enemies frankly hint that Abd-el-Krim had nearly blasted the rich protectorate of Lyautey, root and branch. Petain, they insist, must have full credit for saving it.

The friends of the retiring commander hold that the personality of Lyautey has set its stamp indelibly upon Moroccan minds and hearts. To them any future rapprochement between Frenchmen and Moroccans must redound directly to their idol’s credit.

From Fez-it is reported that the officers of the retiring Marshal felt tears start to their eyes as he announced his decision. With him, they declare, a “great modern Ro-manf proconsul” passes.

*Just 12 years ago every white inhabitant of Fez was massacred; Lyautey punished the guilty, restored order.

tLike “Tiger” Clemenceau and Caillaux, Marshal Lyautey is the living embodiment of the relentlessly active proconsuls of Roman times. He is never still. Rising at 6:30, it is his custom to work restlessly through a long day, conferring with his subordinates even at dinner, making plans late in the evening. His friends wonder if he will “break” with the sudden lifting of the pressure of affairs.