185. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State 1

2894. Reference Secto 15.2 Stating that Pinay had not made French position on Moroccan bases fully clear this morning Foreign Office official permitted us to examine briefing paper from which Pinay spoke. Following is its substance: [Page 519]

1.
French Government fully recognizes importance to over-all Atlantic strategy of these bases and their mission and naturally desires to facilitate its accomplishment.
2.
American establishment in Morocco has through the years outgrown framework originally established (in being administrative center for air network extending as far as Pakistan).
3.
Agreements of 1950 and 1951 have not been fully applied re French role in maintenance and tactical protection of bases.
4.

In these circumstances French Government is prepared to have French and American experts meet at once to seek prompt agreement on arrangements relative to personnel ceilings necessary to give bases maximum effectiveness for western strategy.3 This examination should also cover provisions which might be made to accelerate effective transfer to French forces of tasks which in principle are reserved for them in Morocco; such transfer should also reduce at least temporarily number of Americans required.

Present French Govt4 is understandably not in position to deal with more important changes in existing agreements; that can be done only by new govt to be constituted following elections, taking account of current evolution in French-Moroccan relations.

Crouy explained that ceiling increase considered minor matter which could be settled quickly particularly since agreement already reached in principle on French participation radar and air defense. He said SOF and tax agreement more difficult since at least latter would require promulgation of Dahir by Moroccan Government. We reiterated importance of informing Moroccan Government of base problems and asked whether this had yet been done. Crouy replied that it had not and that question was delicate since point might shortly come when Moroccan Government would not be content with merely being “informed”.

Embassy and EUCOM prepared proceed with expert discussions as soon as detailed breakdown of requirements received from respective headquarters.

Dillon
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.56371A/12–1755. Secret. Repeated to Bonn, Tangier, and the Commander in Chief, U.S. Air Force, Europe (CINCU-SAFE).
  2. Secto 15 briefly summarized the substance of the discussion between Dulles and Pinay on Moroccan bases. (Ibid.)
  3. On December 23, in telegram 2975, the Minister in France, Theodore C. Achilles, indicated that in response to the U.S. request made in February 1955 for an increase in ceilings the French expressed a willingness to permit only a 6-month boost in the air force contingent in Morocco. (Ibid., 711.56371A/12–2355) The Embassy was instructed on January 13, 1956, in telegram 2560, to treat this concession as permanent and to seek a broader, more satisfactory arrangement. (Ibid.)
  4. The government of Edgar Faure was defeated on November 29. The National Assembly was dissolved on December 2 as the Faure Cabinet continued to govern pending the election of January 2, 1956. Guy Mollet formed the new government on January 31.