A copy of this memorandum, which is a preliminary outline of our
contact’s ideas on this subject, has been given to Colonel Eddy.
[Enclosure]
Memorandum
Objective.
The principal vital centers of Morocco—the nerve centers of the
Protectorate—can be occupied and held for about 15 hours
following a “coup de force” effected by surprise and at night by
very small groups.
Advantage must be taken of this period of a few hours to land an
important air force and light air-borne reinforcements, the
first to repel any reaction which may be made by air, the second
to consolidate the objectives attained.
Within the 48 hours following the “coup d’état”, the allied naval
forces must land in the ports which will have been opened to
them the landing forces necessary to assure that the entire
country will fall into line and the protection of the
frontiers.
All critical posts will be occupied at the beginning of the
movement by trusted Frenchmen who will take such measures as
will insure the support of the French population and of the
native chiefs.
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Morocco will then be able to reinforce the ranks of the Frenchmen
who are fighting with the United Nations against the Axis and
will thus be able to contribute effectively, thanks to the key
position which it occupies, to the delivery of France and to the
establishment of its independence and territorial integrity.
Execution.
On the appointed day, at about 1 o’clock in the morning, three
small ships will disembark, the first ship, about 150 men in the
neighborhood of Safi, the second ship, about 500 men in the
neighborhood of Casablanca, the third ship, about 450 men in the
neighborhood of Rabat. These detachments should be composed
exclusively of Frenchmen wearing French uniforms, equipped with
light motorcycles. Guided by trusted men, they would operate as
follows:
Casablanca group. Should be in
the immediate neighborhood of Casablanca at about 2:30
a.m. so that it may take up positions and do as follows
at exactly 3 a.m.
- 70 men to occupy the Admiralty;
- 160 men to occupy the port and the naval ships in
it, (a few French naval reserve officers replacing
immediately the Admiral’s staff and the commanders
and seconds in command of the ships in port).
- 50 men to occupy the airfield;
- 100 to immobilize the Armistice
Commissions;
- 20 to occupy the Police station;
- 15 to occupy the military headquarters;
- 10 to occupy the Post Office and the military
telephone switchboard;
- 10 to occupy the Région Civile;
- 10 to occupy the telephone central;
- 5 to occupy the office of the newspaper Le Petit Marocain;
- 40 to constitute a mobile reserve at the
disposition of Colette, to enable him to take care
of any incident which may occur.
By 4 a.m., all groups should report to headquarters on
the success of their missions.
Northern Group. A sub-group of
about 185 men assigned to Rabat should be in the
neighborhood of that city at 2:30 a.m. so as to be able
to take up positions as follows at exactly 3 a.m:
- 30 men to occupy the aviation field;
- 15 men to immobilize the Resident
General;
- 5 to immobilize the Delegate General;
- 5 to immobilize the Secretary General;
- 15 to immobilize the Commanding
General;
- 20 to occupy the Region Militaire;
- 15 to occupy the Bureau de la Place;
- 30 to occupy the offices of the Direction de
la Sécurité Publique;
- 10 to occupy the Post Office and the Military
telephone switchboard;
- 10 to occupy the Services Municipaux;
- 5 to occupy the office of the newspaper L’Echo du Maroc;
- 25 to constitute a mobile reserve at the
disposition of Roger, to enable him to take care
of any incident which may occur.
By 3:30 a.m. all groups should report to headquarters on
the success of their missions.
Raoul would then call upon the Sultan, accompanied by a
“guard of honor” and notify him, with due deference, of
the organization of a provisional French Government in
Morocco, having the support of the United States.
Meanwhile, a sub-group of 100 men would occupy the vital
centers of Port Lyautey and another sub-group of 165 men
would occupy the vital centers of Meknes (office of the
Région Militaire and staff, aviation field, post office,
telephone central, etc.).
Southern Group. Would occupy the
vital centers of Safi at the same time and in the same
way as the other groups occupied their objectives.
At 3:45 a.m. the northern sub-groups and the southern group would
report by radio to Casablanca.
At 4 a.m. Morocco would report and ask immediate help from the
allied forces and such help, in the shape of fighting aircraft
and air-borne troops, arriving at daybreak would complete the
total occupation of western Morocco.
The allied fleet, which until then would have remained far from
the Moroccan coast in order not to arouse suspicion, would then
proceed at full speed toward the occupied ports and disembark as
soon as possible the troops needed to protect the frontiers.
Other points to be considered: orders to be given to the military
and civilian authorities in the French Zone; the possibility of
a reaction from the Spanish Zone.
