124. Editorial Note
On October 23, 1961, Ambassador Bonsal met with King Hassan II and Minister of State Ahmed Balafrej. Bonsal conveyed a message from President Kennedy stating that if the King were to come to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly, he would be pleased to meet with him in Washington. The King responded that he did not plan to go to the United Nations this year but expressed interest in the possibility of a State visit to Washington the following year. He added that he planned to send Balafrej as his personal representative to Washington in late November to present a general explanation of Moroccan foreign policy, and hoped he would be received by the President. (Telegram 644 from Rabat, October 24; Department of State, Central Files, 771.11/10-2461)
During the conversation, Bonsal outlined the composition of the U.S. survey group that had been set up to study and formulate recommendations on the conversion of U.S. bases in Morocco to peaceful uses, and the King expressed his hope that the team, with which he personally planned to meet for a working session, would proceed to Morocco at an early date. (Telegram 645 from Rabat, October 24; ibid.) The Ambassador conveyed Kennedy’s appreciation of Hassan’s willingness to find a formula that would permit continued U.S. use of the naval communications facilities at Kenitra after 1963. The King reiterated his hope that this could be worked out, but stipulated that he wanted it done by the two of them on a very confidential basis. (Telegram 646 from Rabat, October 24; ibid.)
Bonsal said that the President had personally and carefully studied the U.S. position on Mauritania in line with the King’s expressed desire that this be changed, but had decided, partly in view of previous U.S. commitments, that it could not be. (Telegram 647 from Rabat, October 24; ibid., 611.51T/10-2461)
On October 26, Bonsal reported that he and Hassan had not discussed aid to the Moroccan air force, but that he had since learned from Balafrej that the King continued to be interested in this subject and had been surprised that he had not raised it. He had told the Foreign Minister that he would welcome any information regarding Moroccan plans for developing its air force, and stated that he had previously reported his discussion of this subject with Hassan in July to Washington. Bonsal said he then mentioned the problem of Soviet pilots and technicians without eliciting any specific response. He believed that no further U.S. initiative was necessary for the moment, but that the United States should be ready to respond to any Moroccan initiatives. (Telegram 664 from Rabat, October 26; ibid., 771.5/10-2661)