881.00/2576: Airgram
The Special Representative of President Roosevelt in French North Africa ( Murphy ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 20—4:30 p.m.]
A–50. At the invitation of Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark,48 I proceeded to Oudjda, French Morocco, on June 24th for the purpose of participating in the ceremonies organized incident to the visit to that place of the Sultan of Morocco.
During the course of this visit the Sultan was the guest of General Clark at a reception and a military demonstration offered by American forces. General Clark also presented the Sultan with an automobile as a token of American esteem and provided him with a squadron of airplanes for his return to Rabat.
The ceremonies, which were attended by French officials and Moroccan pachas and caids from the principal points in Morocco, were marked by a great cordiality and good will. They left little doubt regarding the present enthusiasm shown by the Arab population for the American military forces in French Morocco and great credit is due to the skill and tact displayed by General Clark in the conduct of his relations with the Moroccans.
During the course of a conversation I had with the Sultan he dwelt at great length on the value which he and his people attached to liberty. He repeatedly expressed the desire to cooperate actively and enthusiastically with the American authorities in the war effort and, of course, added many references to the hope of the Moroccan population for the support of the United States in the future.
The Sultan has also sent me word, through Si Mammeri, his official interpreter and protocol officer, that he desires to speak to me confidentially as soon as may be convenient.
There is no doubt in my mind that, as a result of the friendly treatment given by the American military authorities to the Moroccan Arabs, we may count on their friendship. At the same time there is also little doubt of their growing hope that the United States may intervene in their behalf to relieve them from the French Protectorate. The American military authorities, of course, are interested in attaining their objective, namely the wholehearted cooperation of the Arab population during the coming critical months, for purely military reasons. It is a situation which calls for considerable tact to avoid a campaign on the part of the Arabs for our support in obtaining a political adjustment at some future date. I do not believe that the Cherifian authorities hope for such an adjustment prior to the termination [Page 743] of hostilities, but it is apparent that they are constructing a plan looking to that ultimate result.
I have been careful to avoid several suggestions emanating from Rabat for a “confidential” discussion with the Sultan, as I feel that this is a matter in which the Department would desire the greatest prudence exercised.
I have also had several conversations with the new Resident General in Rabat, Gabriel Puaux. I find him extremely helpful and friendly and I am confident that we shall obtain the maximum cooperation from him. He has selected as his Chief of Cabinet Mr. François de Rose, who is well and favorably known to the Department as a friend of the United States. It seems to me that the new administration organized under Resident General Puaux augurs well for future Franco-American relations in French Morocco.
- Commanding General, Fifth Army.↩