218. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President1
SUBJECT
- The King of Morocco’s Visit to Washington, November 25–27, 1957
The King of Morocco’s visit to the United States, and particularly your substantive discussions with him on November 26 and 27, may prove to be of crucial importance in determining the future course of his country. For your consideration, I enclose a staff study outlining the significance of and our objectives for this visit.2
Morocco is important to us not merely for the five major air bases and the Voice of America installations we have there, but because it is an Arab state open to healthy influences from the West. The King is an able statesman whose influence has been used consistently for moderation in his country’s affairs. Although constitutionally a nearly absolute monarch, he is, in fact, subject and responsive to public pressures. His outlook is modern and he envisages democratic institutions for his country. In foreign affairs his influence might eventually be useful in any practical steps to settle the Algerian war, depending on French receptivity to third-party intervention. Moreover he represents a moderate influence in the Arab world in general. For example, Morocco has not joined the Arab League, has no relations with Communist states, and has a Jewish cabinet minister.
Accordingly, we consider our primary objective for the visit to be added stature for the King and his government at home and abroad in a context of United States-Moroccan amity. It is of equal importance to obtain from the King during his visit some form of official recognition for our military installations in Morocco, which were constructed under an agreement with France that the Moroccan Government contends is invalid.
[Page 589]We hope to gain both objectives by means of a joint declaration signed by His Majesty and yourself, of the nature proposed in the enclosed staff study.3 I recommend that you take the initiative at the outset of your conversations with the King in proposing such a declaration, both because it is the key to our desires for this visit and because the awkward subjects we expect the King to raise (such as Algeria and other difficulties with France) could thereby be confined to the reasonable period of time then remaining in your talks.
The King and his ministers, like the Moroccan people as a whole, are sensitive about their newly-won independence and are apprehensive lest they be accorded anything less than equal status, particularly as they feel that France has consistently given less than full practical recognition to Moroccan independence, despite the French financial and military aid given to Morocco in the past.
I am looking forward to my meeting with you on November 22 for a further discussion of these matters.4
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 711.11/11–1957. Secret. Drafted by William N. Stokes, Officer in Charge of Northwest Africa Affairs.↩
- Not printed; the study is entitled “The Significance of, and United States Objectives for, the King of Morocco’s Visit to Washington, November 25–27, 1957”.↩
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The draft declaration reads:
“The United States desires that the arrangements governing United States installations in Morocco accord fully and completely with Moroccan sovereignty and independence. His Majesty and the President declare the common intention of their Governments to reach a formal agreement in detail of this nature, and agree that in the meantime United States use of these installations will continue to be facilitated, through the friendly cooperation of their Governments.”
↩ - Dulles, Palmer, and Goodpaster discussed the Moroccan visit with the President in detail. The Secretary commented that the King’s major concern would be Algeria and after that military bases and aid. (Memorandum of conference with the President by Goodpaster, November 23; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩