Office of the Historian

881.00/7–1745: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)

Washington, August 4, 1945—2 p.m.

3675. For Villard. With reference Embassy’s despatch 2559, July 17,44 transmitting French proposals on Tangier, Dept is inclined to prefer British proposals with alterations along lines of suggestions contained in Deptel 3271, July 13, 6 p.m.45

Since we are not in position to adhere to 1923 Statute, we feel that we should insist on safeguarding all our rights under existing treaties including those acquired by custom and usage and not limit our reservations in this respect to those treaties and conventions to which we are signatory, as proposed by French.

There are objections to French proposal for interim exclusively Shereefian police force. Alternative solutions should be explored.

To provide funds for early administration during interim regime we favor equal contributions by major powers concerned over having such funds advanced by State Bank of Morocco. Availability of our contribution will depend in part on sum required. (Please reply to Deptel 3020, June 29.46)

With particular reference to Legislative Assembly proposed by French, we would prefer during interim regime British suggestion for Consultative Legislative Committee. If there is to be a Legislative Assembly or a Consultative Legislative Committee, we advance suggestion for your consideration that France, Spain, Britain, US and USSR should each have three members, and Portugal, Belgium and Netherlands one member each, with provision for one Italian member as soon as Italy has been permitted to adhere to agreement. Also, of the six [Page 626] Moslem members, three might be designated by Mendoub and three by Committee of Control after consultation with Moslem community. The three Jewish members might also be chosen by Committee of Control, rather than by Mendoub, from list of nine candidates presented by Jewish community. Please inform Dept your view as to possibility obtaining three appropriate persons to serve as members of Legislative Assembly nominated by US. Please consider question of altering provisions as to eligibility of members of Assembly under 1923 Statute.

It is observed that neither British nor French drafts include provision for Soviet participation in interim administration. Entry of Soviet Govt into discussions will doubtless cause modifications in this regard.

Rptd London as 6534; Madrid as 1338; Tangier as 176.

Grew
  1. Not printed; it enumerated the French proposals. See also telegram 2993, May 27, 11 a.m., from Paris, p. 608.↩
  2. Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol. i, p. 1005.↩
  3. Same as telegram 5306 to London; ibid., p. 989.↩