112. Memorandum From the Ambassador at Large (Harriman) to Secretary of State Rusk 1
After luncheon on January 19th for the Moroccan Foreign Minister Benhima, he asked to have a private word with me. He explained that the Moroccan Government was coming more and more to realize the impracticability of nonalignment as it was being interpreted by the radical Africans. He said these countries were clearly following Communist policies. Under these circumstances Morocco, he said, was in the process of making a fundamental decision to align itself more closely with the West, that his government has confidence in the United States and its Western friends, but the King wanted to have a somewhat clearer understanding of the United States attitude.
[Page 168]The King hoped to have an early opportunity to talk to the President. He realized that with all the claims on the President this could only be done in connection with some other visit. The King thought that the President might be going to Rome, in which event the King could come to Rome to meet the President, with the excuse of making a trip for his health. I asked whether Paris would be as convenient to the King. The Minister replied that he felt Rome would be more appropriate. Mr. Benhima concluded that if a meeting was to be arranged it would be well for someone to come to Morocco in advance to talk over the subjects for the meeting between the King and the President. He expressed the hope that as the King knew me of old, I might be selected.
I made no comment except to say that I would undertake to explore the subject he had raised and would advise him through his Ambassador in Washington.