881.01/105
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
On the 12th November the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs84 asked Sir Samuel Hoare85 whether the juridical status of Morocco would be changed by the Allied occupation. Sir Samuel Hoare replied that whilst he could not give him detailed information without [Page 468] instructions from His Majesty’s Government he thought Señor Jordana might be confident that His Majesty’s Government desired to maintain the juridical status of Morocco and to treat the occupation as purely a military and temporary incident. Señor Jordana then asked whether there would still be a French High Commissioner in Morocco. Sir Samuel Hoare replied he could not give any details but undertook to draw the attention of His Majesty’s Government to the anxiety of the Spanish Government to see that the juridical status quo was maintained.
- 2.
- The Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs has continued to show interest in the subject and Sir Samuel Hoare is anxious to be in a position to give him a definite reply. Subject to the views of the United States Government, His Majesty’s Government propose to authorise him to say, if the question is raised again by the Spanish Government, that it is not the intention of the United Nations to interfere with the juridical status of French Morocco or to seek to abolish the post of Resident General.
- 3.
- His Majesty’s Government would be glad to know as soon as possible whether the United States Government concur in the above proposed reply.