For what interests were U.S. pilots dropping bombs on the people of Morocco in 1925? Having rebelled against the Spanish colonials, French imperialism joined in the robbers’ war, and failing, to put down the Riffian Republic, with U.S. aviators then joining in the imperial pile-on.

‘Banker Morgan Wars on the Riffs in Africa’ by B. Borisoff from The Daily Worker Magazine. Vol. 2 No. 173. August 1, 1925.

HAS the United States declared war on the Moroccans? No, there has been no official declaration of war. However, how could we interpret the action of a squadron of volunteer American aviators, holding high ranks in the American aviation service who have offered their services to the French government to assist in the military offensive against the Riffians? How will the Riffians interpret the action of this squadron when it will proceed to bombard their troops, to burn the villages of the natives and to kill innocent civilians, their wives and children? Surely, they will interpret that as a declaration of war, since it becomes apparent that this squadron is acting with the consent and under the silent approval of the American government.

THAT this is actually taking place is becoming apparent from the following report which we read in the Chicago Daily News edition of July 15:

“Paris: Premier Painleve last night gave his consent to the formation of a new Lafayette–American air squadron to proceed at once to the Moroccan battlefields. This squadron is being organized by Colonel Charles Sweeney and thus far the following veterans, who saw service in the French and American armies during the world war, have asked to join: Maj. Grey of Chicago, who commanded an American flying group in 1918 and won fourteen victories; Captain Wm. Rogers of Pittsburgh, formerly of the Lafayette squadron; Maj. Baer, assistant chief of the Peruvian air service and a member of the New York air police reserve force; Paul Rockwell, formerly a correspondent of the Daily News in Paris; Maj. Pollock, who helped organize the New York air police; Commander Parker, who won eight victories while in the Lafayette squadron; Col. Kerwood, who saw service in the United States, French, Honduran and Greek armies and organized the New York air police reserve.

“The members of the new unit will have French airplanes and will reach Morocco about July 22, in time to take part in the big French offensive against Abd-el-Krim.”

WHEN the high ranked American officers will take an active part in the subjugation of Moroccans by the French troops, they will do so undoubtedly with the consent and silent approval of the American government. To be sure we do not want to imply that there has been an official exchange of notes between the French and the American governments on the subject. Such would be unnecessary, and even embarrassing. But can anyone conceive that these “volunteers,” these war veterans who were brought up in military discipline, should act without being sure that their action finds the approval of their superiors of the American army officials, of the American diplomatic representatives in France and of the American government itself?

The government at the White House is thus responsible for the blood of the Moroccans to be shed by these aviators and for other crimes which they commit, unless it takes immediate steps to recall them.

THE American workers would like to know in the name of what cause this French-American war against the Riffians is being organized, and already the French and American imperialists are giving a suitable moral explanation. Here it is, as we hear it from the lips of the commander-in-chief of French armies in Morocco:

“I can hardly express my feelings in appreciation and gratitude for the magnificent generosity of those Americans who, in an hour when they consider France is again in difficulty, have again abandoned their personal interests and offered their help. It is not only the fact that the French air force will be increased by so many valorous elements that rejoices all Frenchmen; we appreciate far more the desire of the Americans to aid France in a difficult moment.

“The American people have always been on the side of justice, and this offer of new service to France is a sign of their belief that our war in Morocco is a battle for civilization and justice.

“We are not after territorial conquest. We want the Riffan mountaineers to live peacefully in their own country. We will give them every facility for trade with the people in our protectorate. But when they try to impose their will on territories that do not belong to them, they force us to take measures which will cost them dearly “No doubt the French will have to pay the price for victory, but we shall prove to the Riffians that they cannot disregard the rights of French with impunity.”

THE French general appears to be overcome by emotion. He is hardly able to speak. Indeed, is it not a suitable occasion for such an emotional outburst? For again the “noble Americans” come to the rescue of “France” in a difficult moment. And again, as in 1914, this is by no means a war of aggression but a war for “civilization and justice.” “The French government,” the general assures us, “is not the invader of Moroccan territory, but the Moroccans themselves, attempt to force their will on the territories which do not belong to them.”

So speaks the French general, a master liar in the employ of the French imperialists. He lauds the “heroic” act of the American volunteers as if it were inspired by the entire American nation. To quote again his own words: “The American people have always been on the side of justice and this offer of new service to France is a sign of their belief that our war in Morocco is a battle for civilization and justice.”

THE general is lying. The great toiling masses of America refuse to be deceived this time. They do not believe that the invasion of French imperialism in Morocco against the heroic and brave people, fighting valiantly for their independence, can be explained as a war for “civilization and justice.” The American workers understand that not civilization and justice are endangered by the Moroccans, but that the French imperialist rule in Africa is in deadly danger to be overthrown. The American workers do not approve the “heroic” act of the officer-volunteers, nor are they responsible for the silent support given this act by the American government. In their conception these high ranked officer-aviators are not heroes but simply hired assassins and murderers which should be tried for the destruction and murder they will inflict upon the totally innocent population of Morocco. It is quite clear that these volunteer aviators were bought by the promise of still higher titles, and although at the present time it is said they receive only one franc a day, it is quite clear that a much greater reward is awaiting them in the future. But what prompts the American government to allow the organization of American detachments for war against the natives of Morocco? Here, too, the explanation is to be found, not in the field of idealism, but in the field of imperialist self-interest. What would happen with the loans of millions of dollars by the House of Morgan and Company to the bankrupt a French imperialist government if France were to lose her African colonies? What would happen with the e payment of war loans of France concluded in America?

THE interests of French and American imperialism are interlocked. They demand the subjection of Moroccans. The interests of workers are different. It is in their interest not that the French and American imperialism become strengthened, but, on the contrary, that the exploited colonial people win over their imperialist oppressors.

That is the reason why the American workers must demand that the American government should cease making war against the peaceful native population of Morocco; that this government should recall its volunteer aviators from Morocco and that it should compensate the Moroccans for the destruction of life and property which was caused by the American flyers in their war for “civilization.”

The Workers (Communist) Party of e America, the defender and champion of the exploited colonial people should be the first to act. It must tear off the mask from American imperialism; the party should demand an explanation why the government permits its officer-aviators to carry on war against the peaceful population of Morocco and why it assists the French imperialists to suppress this population. Our party should organize the working masses for a protest and struggle against the murderous acts of our “own” imperialism.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1925/1925-ny/v02b-n173-supplement-aug-01-1925-DW-LOC.pdf