Show French Moroccan Chief Vows Fight If Alien Power Inv Invades odes Territory By JOSEPH L L. RA MARRAKECH French Morocco March 12 UP French UP-French French Moroccans will fight any foreign force which dares to set foot upon our terri tern tory El Hadj El EI G loui his hisey ey eyes s flashing fire as he spoke told me that Wednesday Probably not many Americans every have heard of El before before before be be- fore but It is a name to conjure with in the vast western reaches of Morocco from the hot coast of the Atlantic across the wilderness of the Atlas mountains to the sands of the Sahara El is the pasha of the Marrakech region and probably the Moroccan leader best known in Europe No Strings on Pledge Fledge He attached no strings to his statement that Moroccans would fight invasion from any quarter He said that regardless of the at attitude attitude attitude at- at of the Vichy government Moroccans would defend their homeland with or without French aid ald The pasha met me at the door of his palace and led the way to a huge reception room whose walls were formed of ancient Moorish mosaics This room looked into a central patio filled with scarlet and purple purple pur pur- pie flowers orange trees laden with fruit and a cool fountain gently I splashing while tropical birds flew flewin in and out through the open columns columns columns col col- col- col that separated the patio and reception room Motioning to me to squat on a cushion the pasha also squatted Interpreter Aids Him lIim The pasha speaks excellent French but he had invited a French colonial officer to interpret explaining he wanted every shade of his discourse conveyed with ex ex- ex- ex Speaking his native tongue he expressed admiration for the United United United Unit Unit- ed States and said that despite the remoteness from America he had followed the congressional debate of the lend lease-lend bill with great in in- terest He said he expected much from the United States It is not at the moment of affluence affluence affluence ence that one really knows his friends said the pasha It is at atthe atthe atthe the moment of adversity when ones one's very existence is threatened that ones one's true friends are dis dis- covered He made it plain that he is isa isa isa a friend of France His beliefs follow follow follow fol fol- fol- fol low those of his father who enabled enabled enabled en en- France to pacify the entire Atlas AUas mountain region by himself obtaining the allegiance of the tribes which produce the toughest fighters in all Africa The son wants to see Morocco continue to be French The United States he said can and must help preserve our civilizations our ways of living We Weare Weare Weare are doln doing all that Is possible to help France solve her food problem We are short certain raw materials which the United States can easily supply We can help In many other ways to restore France to her former former former for for- mer position but again aid Id must come from the United States When I asked him what Morocco's Morocco's Morocco's Mo Mo- rocco's reaction w would uld be In case of Invasion his eyes flashed and forgetting that he had felt a need for an interpreter said in French We would fight anyone who dared to set foot on our territory Marshal Henri Philippe Petain Insists in insists insists In- In on the armistice terms being respected I personally will lead my men mento mento mento to battle if African soil is violated At this moment we are like a up dried-up river but if it any enemy entered Morocco we would be like a 8 river which sweeps away all obstructions We would resist even if we had to resort to sticks and stones A negro woman servant in blue and orange dress white turban and silver bracelets served warm mint tea and sweets The pasha was simply dressed in a white burnoose a European style brown silk shirt and tie |