217. Message From the Ambassador in Morocco (Cannon) to Minister of Foreign Affairs Balafrej1
Informal Account of Topics Raised in Audience with His Majesty on November 2, 1957
Dear Mr. Balafrej: At the end of my audience on November 2, at which you were unable to be present, His Majesty asked whether I would put down, in informal style for further consideration upon your return, the topics I had mentioned in the course of the audience. Here, then, is a brief outline of the points I chiefly had in mind.
Except for a reference to the United States press release to be issued on November 4, and an inquiry whether His Majesty during His visit to the United States would like to take advantage of technical facilities which can be made available for the broadcast of an address to the people of Morocco from the American continent, I did not discuss details of itinerary, program, etc. of the visit.
[Page 586]I said, however, that it would be very useful indeed, and almost essential to the substantive success of the visit, if we could have an indication of the topics which His Majesty would like to bring into the conversations with the President. I explained that because of legislative and administrative requirements in our country, detailed “staff work” must be done and preparatory consultations take place before there can be decisive action, even on the highest Executive level. For this there remains very little time even now.
Chief among the topics to be discussed, I supposed, would be the Base negotiations. I said that we had had many useful and friendly meetings covering the whole general range, but these had been largely on the technical level and devoted thus far to the presentation and study of the American side of the case. It was my opinion that the negotiations would not be far enough advanced for any general formal agreement at the time of His Majesty’s visit. If this is indeed the situation it is important that we together review how best to capitalize on the progress made thus far. I would like very much to have His Majesty’s views on whether the meeting at Washington might not afford an opportunity for agreement on broad general principles as a basis for an agreement. If some preliminary work could now be undertaken it might then be possible, as a feature of His Majesty’s visit, to issue something of a joint declaration to this effect.
I had not forgotten the earlier discussions in which the Moroccan position generally had been set forth, both as regards the agreements under which the bases were originally installed and as regards other factors in Morocco’s international relationships, particularly with France and Spain, which make the negotiation of a new agreement with the United States a matter of some complexity. I noted that in these circumstances the Moroccan negotiators were still unsure of the “framework” within which the new agreement with the United States could be formulated, especially since there are other foreign military establishments in Moroccan territory. These circumstances had appeared to suggest some regional arrangement as an appropriate “framework.”
I observed that there were of course very important differences between our installations here and other foreign military establishments, both as regards original purposes and present function and scope of military interest. It was at the Moroccan request that our present negotiations were undertaken on a bilateral Morocco-United States basis, and having made some progress we would probably prefer to continue on that basis. There is room for flexibility on this point, however, since American arrangements for facilities can be in the framework of either bilateral or regional relationships, in the latter case especially where one can establish the fact of a regional [Page 587] identity of interest. We might well contemplate in this instance a bilateral agreement so worked out as to be adaptable to an eventual multilateral or regional arrangement. This would take care of the risk of launching a plan for multilateral association before we had cleared away the problems of the bilateral relationship.
We would be deeply interested in His Majesty’s views on this matter. It has occurred to me that the Royal visit may afford an occasion for His Majesty to take the initiative for a plan, which the United States could then endorse. For a matter of such importance it would be essential that there be preliminary discussions here at Rabat, and if the suggestion proves interesting to His Majesty’s Government I should be grateful if I could learn something of the Moroccan thinking on the eventual membership, the character and scope, as well as the form and timetable for the formation of such an eventual association.
In the time graciously made available to me by His Majesty I did not make direct reference, in alluding to the time required for working out a regional relationship, to what is often considered a divisive element which might prove an obstacle to an early realization of a regional arrangement; namely, the Algerian issue. It might be useful to examine the validity of this argument, and I would welcome an opportunity to hear the views of His Majesty’s Government on the matter. At all events this is one of the issues I had in mind in suggesting a bilateral arrangement capable of later extension.
As regards the “framework” in general, I referred to the “ensemble” of United States relations with Morocco over the years which we are confident will grow into a closer association in all fields. Considering our demonstrable record both as regards the establishment and consolidation of peace in the free world and as regards our friendly, active and practical interest in the welfare of newly established states coping with the many problems of securing their welfare and independence, I wondered whether such an “ensemble” justifying our activities here is not already in being. The subject of our economic relations is in active discussion with the appropriate officials. Apart from the question of present programs and current economic negotiations (which I did not discuss in this audience) I assured His Majesty that in negotiating for the continuation of United States military facilities in Morocco we fully realize the importance over the years, also for the United States, of a healthy economy and political and social stability in Morocco.