Office of the Historian

118. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Solbert) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Wheeler)1

I–22,888/65
Washington, May 10, 1965.

SUBJECT

  • Military Assistance for Morocco

I am enclosing a letter from Assistant Secretary Williams regarding the proposal to approach the Moroccan Government on the establishment of contingency facilities in Morocco (JCSM–255–65).2 In his judgment, the Moroccan Government either would not respond favorably because of domestic and external political considerations or, in the unlikely event of a favorable response, would demand a sizeable quid pro quo. In the circumstances, I propose that we defer action until the F–5 training program for the Moroccan Air Force is well underway. At that time, we could assess whether this program, which could provide a cover for the contingency stocks, and the then existing political factors would favor our chances of moving forward successfully with the proposed contingency arrangements.

Peter Solbert
  1. Source: Department of Defense, JCS Files, 9118.3 (25 Jan. 65). Secret.↩
  2. Enclosure A to JCS 2409/4–1. [Footnote in the source text. The enclosure was attached but is not printed.]↩