144. Memorandum From the President’s Special Assistant (Rostow) to President Johnson1
SUBJECT
- Conte-Long Determinations for Morocco
Nick Katzenbach recommends you sign the two attached determinations on military assistance to Morocco. The purpose is to enable us to sell jet fighters without cutting economic aid.
In February 1967, you promised King Hassan $14 million in arms and approved a credit sale. Unfortunately, the Conte-Long amendments apply.
In signing the waiver at Tab A,2 you will essentially be saying that it is in our interest to preserve a firm relationship with Morocco and helping Hassan meet his legitimate defense needs is an important part of that relationship. Even if we didn’t have a promise to keep, we would have to recognize that Morocco faces a military threat from Algeria which is well supplied by the USSR, and King Hassan will have to get arms somewhere. We know the Russians are ready to step in with MIG-21s if we don’t sell the F–5s, and we have persistently tried to help Hassan maintain his Western ties. His is a friendly and moderate voice in a part of the world where we must take special care to keep our friends. As you know, we still have our communications intelligence station there.
The second determination (Tab B)3 is a purely technical matter, similar to ones you have signed for Morocco for the last three years. It permits the use of $1.5 million in grant assistance under a 1960 agreement rather than negotiating a new one that would authorize us to review their use of the equipment and require them to return it to us when they no longer need it. In practice, our people in Morocco have full access to the equipment. It would also waive the requirement that this money be used exclusively for internal security and civic action rather than self-defense. We want to use the grant for such things as F–5 pilot training.
Attached two determinations for your signature if you approve. Nick Katzenbach, on the basis of consultations, foresees no adverse Congressional [Page 218] reaction. Signing these determinations will pave the way for your approving an agricultural loan which is at the bottom of this package.4
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Memos to the President, Walt W. Rostow, Vol. 80. Secret.↩
- Attached but not printed. President Johnson signed the determination on June 6. Telegram 177949 to Rabat, June 6, instructed the Embassy to negotiate the $14 million credit package. (Department of State, Central Files, DEF 19–8 US–MOR)↩
- Attached but not printed. President Johnson signed the determination on June 6.↩
- Attached but not printed. President Johnson approved an $8 million agricultural loan for Morocco on June 6.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩