881.00/5–945
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of African Affairs (Villard)
Mr. Wright came in to say that a further telegram had been received from London setting forth the British views with regard to the interim administration of Tangier. Mr. Wright referred in this connection to a telegram dated June 7, 1945 from the British Embassy at Madrid, a copy of which he had transmitted to us under date of June 12,38 reporting that the Spanish Government had approached the British Ambassador at Madrid with an offer to begin discussions on the withdrawal of the Spanish forces from Tangier.
In the latest telegram from the London Foreign Office it was explained that the British authorities were now hesitant to set up a military administration of Tangier in the interim period because of the impression it might create elsewhere. They would not object to the use of military forces for police purposes in order to insure an orderly transitional period, but they would prefer a civilian provisional administration for the International Zone rather than a full military occupation. Moreover, the British foresaw difficulties in appointing a commander of a combined military occupation force. They themselves did not wish to assume the command, and they did not wish the French to do so.
The British have no definite alternate plan to offer at this time, and they hoped that sufficient latitude would be allowed in our discussions at London to explore the question more fully. They realized that the United States could not participate in a revival of the 1923 statute, and since the British Government strongly desired American participation they would not insist on reintroducing the statute. We discussed the possibility of the Consular Corps at Tangier assuming control during the interim period but reached no conclusions. I mentioned the possibility that the Trusteeship Council of the World Organization might provide a solution for the International Zone of Tangier, and Mr. Wright thought this of sufficient interest to say he would pass it along informally to his government.
Mr. Wright also raised the point that some Swedish officials might be brought into the Tangier picture at this time in order to avoid complications and differences among the leading powers. I said I thought this was another subject which could be discussed at the forthcoming meeting in London.
- Not printed.↩