349. Editorial Note

At the 367th meeting of the National Security Council on May 29, President Eisenhower’s Special Assistant, Karl G. Harr, Jr., reviewed an Operations Coordinating Board Report on Spain. He commented briefly on Spanish-Moroccan relations:

“With respect to Northwest Africa, a secret meeting on April 1 in Portugal produced an agreement between Spain and Morocco concerning turnover of control of the Southern Zone of Morocco to Morocco and the stationing of Spanish troops in Morocco, which appeared to solve one of the worst problems between them. However, other tensions, such as those which have led to serious fighting between Spanish garrisons and armed bands of Moroccans in Ifni, as well as in Spanish Sahara, remain.” (Briefing note attached to the memorandum of discussion; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)

The Council noted the report in NSC Action No. 1919, but took no further action on it. Dated April 30, a copy of the OCB Report is in Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 61 D 385.