132. National Security Study Memorandum 1601 2
TO:
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Defense
- The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT:
- Policy Toward Morocco
The President has directed a study of US policy toward Morocco and the options open to the United States in light of possible developments in Morocco following from the recent attempted coup-d’etat.
This study should identify US interests in Morocco as precisely as possible, evaluate their relative importance and, based on our best estimate of the future, delineate the possible approaches we might take to best serve these interests. The study should include but not be limited to consideration of the following factors:
- —the political, economic and strategic importance of Morocco to the United States;—the prospect for the continued role of King Hassan and the implications of both his demise or continuance in power for US interests;
- —possible successor governments to the monarchy and their implications for US interests;
- —the importance of the US naval communications complex at Kenitra and the VOA relay station at Tangier and the prospects for their continuance in Morocco;
- —the programs and resources we are likely to have available to devote to Morocco in the future;
- —the role of influential third parties such as France and Algeria.
The study should be prepared by the NSC Interdepartmental Group for Africa and should be submitted not later than October 5 for consideration by the Senior Review Group.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, National Security Study Memoranda (NSSM’s), Nos. 104–206. Secret.↩
- Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Kissinger delivered President Nixon’s request for a study of U.S. policy toward Morocco, which would examine U.S. interests and options for protecting them.↩