365. Editorial Note
King Mohamed V called in Ambassador Yost on April 11 and asked him to clarify the reference to arrangements for communications facilities in President Eisenhower’s March 30 letter, stating that he wished to respond promptly to the message but needed to know which installations Eisenhower meant. (Telegram 2172 from Rabat, April 11; Department of State, Central Files, 771.11/4–1160) The following day, Prime Minister Ibrahim also discussed this issue with Yost. Yost suggested the King not make any final decision on the communications facilities, but merely agree to open discussions about them. (Telegram 2181 from Rabat, April 12; ibid., 771.11/4–1260) The Department of State endorsed this approach on April 15. (Telegram 1867 to Rabat; April 15; ibid., 771.56311/4–1560)
The King’s April 16 reply assured Eisenhower that Morocco would never allow a hostile third party to occupy bases the United States had built and evacuated there, accepted the President’s offer to train Moroccans to operate these bases, and noted the Moroccan Foreign Minister had been instructed to negotiate the status of remaining U.S. forces in Morocco. Regarding the communications facilities, it stated that the Foreign Minister would approach Yost for further information, since the Moroccans did not recall any previous discussion of the subject. (Telegram 2290 from Rabat, April 23; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, International File)
On April 22, King Mohamed sent a second letter to the President, urging the United States to intercede with France to end the war in Algeria. (Telegram 2301 from Rabat, April 24; ibid.) Acting Secretary [Page 807] Dillon recommended Eisenhower respond to this letter and the April 16 message together. The former merited “a reply at some length in view of the King’s personal involvement in this problem and the particular danger which it poses to his regime,” while the latter merely required simple acknowledgement. (Memorandum for the President, May 4; Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/5–460)
Eisenhower’s May 5 reply assured the King that the United States would do what it could to bring the Algerian war to a conclusion, and noted President De Gaulle had affirmed his offer of Algerian self-determination during his April visit to Washington. Regarding the King’s April 16 letter, Eisenhower stated Ambassador Yost had been instructed “to cooperate fully in the discussions which are envisaged.” (Telegram 2001 to Rabat, May 5; ibid., 751S.00/5–560) Regarding De Gaulle’s visit, see Document 309.
The President’s letter was delivered to the King at noon on May 9. After noting prompt action was needed before the situation in Algeria deteriorated further, the King stated he would instruct the Foreign Ministry to establish a commission to review base problems and to carry out negotiations with the United States. (Telegram 2417 from Rabat, May 9; Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/5–960)