771.00/8–2153: Telegram
The Consul at Rabat (Dorman) to the Department of State1
restricted
priority
Rabat, August 21, 1953—4
p.m.
45. Mindel convoked Consular corps noon today and gave following summary his version events:
- 1.
- Council Ministers Paris, faced with deteriorated situation in which only choice lay between deposition Sultan by French or civil war resulting in expulsion Sultan by force native dissidents, gave Resident General broad authority but preferred compromise solution. Resident General returned, met Glaoui Casablanca 6 a.m. August 19, offered unrevealed compromise but Glaoui refused. Although Glaoui gave word prevent disorder, similar restraint by other caids could not be relied upon, especially as several thousand Berbers converging Rabat.
- 2.
- Resident General called palace and told Sultan situation so far deteriorated that Resident General obliged remove sovereign to prevent disorder. Tanks accompanied Resident General in case several thousand Moroccans living inside Mechouar caused trouble but none ensued.
- 3.
- Grand Vizir accepted abdication and sent due notice all pashas, caids, in traditional letter leaving much space for signatures acknowledgment. Fez notice signed by all Ulemas, Chorfas, Alouite relatives, other notables. Maghzen members, dominated by authoritarian ex-Sultan, relieved at abdication. Majority Istiqlal supporters mere opportunists who will cooperate with government now Sultan gone. [Page 625] Moroccan leaders “unanimous in approving deposition, with no word regret Sultan’s departure”.
- 4.
- Moulay Ben Arafa chosen Sultan because he “was already half way (Iman)”, close relative former ruler, “most worthy candidate, and had support Moroccan chiefs”. Ben Arafa will make triumphal entry Rabat late morning tomorrow (August 22), which equivalent ceremony enthronement. No time to arrange Hedya. Reign new Sultan will begin era wide new reforms and development toward democracy.
Dorman
- This telegram was repeated to Paris, Tangier, and Casablanca.↩