369. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President1
SUBJECT
- Request for Oral Presidential Waiver Under Section 451(a) of the Mutual Security Act Permitting Military Assistance to the Kingdom of Morocco
I wish to request an oral determination pursuant to Section 451(a) of the Mutual Security Act of 1954, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the Act), that Sections 141 (second sentence), 142(a) and 511(c) of the Act and the requirements of the Mutual Defense Assistance Control Act of 1951 (known as the Battle Act),2 be waived with respect to the provision of up to $6,767,868 of military assistance to Morocco. This assistance consists of jet aircraft (T–33 trainers and F–86 fighters), pilot training, spares and related items for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. It would be offered in exchange for assurances [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] that a recent offer of jet aircraft from the Soviet Union will not result in the introduction of Soviet pilots and technicians along with the Soviet aircraft in Morocco.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff consider that the arrival of Soviet pilots and technicians would entail excessive risks to our own SAC bases and could virtually neutralize them.
The King and the Crown Prince have assured Ambassador Yost that the acceptance of the Soviet offer entails no change in Morocco’s good relations with the United States. Both seemed impressed at Ambassador Yost’s warnings of the risks involved in the acceptance of these Soviet planes, and especially at the prospect of Soviet instructors and technicians coming to Morocco. [31/2 lines of source text not declassified]
The Ambassador would have to be prepared to act immediately. Accordingly, he has urgently requested stand-by authority to make such an offer to the Crown Prince early this week, if the course of his conversation seems to indicate the likelihood of success.
The Department of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, while disliking as do we the element of direct competition with the Russians, nevertheless consider that the security aspects of our bases in Morocco and the danger of Soviet intrusion in an area on NATO’s flank warrant such a counter-offer. They urge that as small a squadron as the Ambassador thinks practicable be offered the Crown Prince.
Costs vary with the number of aircraft it may be necessary to offer. In an effort to achieve minimum cost to the United States, details of numbers and types of aircraft would not be discussed initially.
It is necessary to waive the above-mentioned requirements of the Act in the absence of a military assistance agreement satisfying these requirements. It is necessary to waive the requirements of the Battle Act with respect to this assistance because the Moroccan Government has permitted some shipments of cobalt to the Soviet bloc contrary to the controls required under the Battle Act.
[Page 814]Informal inquiry of the Bureau of the Budget indicates that there would be no objection on the part of the Bureau to the waiving of these requirements for the purposes stated.
If you concur, the completed papers necessary for a formal confirmation of your waiver will be sent to you as soon as possible.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.5–MSP/12–660. Confidential. Drafted by Stephen H. McClintic, Officer in Charge of Moroccan Affairs, on December 5 and Bell on December 6, and cleared by Penfield. The source text bears the typewritten notations: “Approved by White House 12/7/60” and “Telegram to Rabat Niact dispatched.” The telegram under reference is 771 to Rabat, December 7. (Ibid., 771.5622/11–2960)↩
- For text of P.L. 82–213, approved October 26, 1951, which provided for suspension of U.S. economic aid to nations supplying strategic materials to Communist countries, see 65 Stat. 644.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this stamped signature.↩