881.00/12–947: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Consulate at Rabat

secret

29. Urdesp 912 [192], Dec. 9. US has no intention at present acting as mediator between France and Morocco. As long as US recognizes French Protectorate over Morocco and as long as friendly relations with France retain present relative importance, communications with Sultan must continue to be handled through the Resident General as the Sultan’s FonMin with possible exception described below.

Current policy is that any approaches which we may make to French Govt with view to urging liberal colonial policy as envisaged by Paris North African meeting will continue to be on confidential basis and we will approach North African Nationalist leaders only when French (1) have announced plan we can support and (2) have expressed concurrence our approach to Arabs.

Sent Rabat as 29. Rptd Tangier as 284; Paris as 4632.

Lovett