Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–9, Part 1, Documents on North Africa, 1973–1976

75. Memorandum From Clinton Granger of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)¹

Washington, January 28, 1976.

SUBJECT

• Notification to Congress of F–5 and DRAGON Missile Sale to Morocco

The Department of Defense has prepared notification to Congress of two pending sales to Morocco: the sale of 20 F–5E and four F–5F aircraft valued at $135.0 million, and 8260 DRAGON missiles and launchers costing $57.4 million. The State Department has asked for our decision before Secretary Kissinger’s meeting with a personal emmissary from King Hassan on January 29.

Although delivery of the F–5s will not begin for 22 months, and DRAGON delivery is even further in the future, these sales must be considered in light of the ongoing Sahara dispute. Algeria can be expected to be irritated and may interpret the sale—in spite of the long lead times—as a weakening of our announced policy of evenhandedness in the Sahara. We do not believe, however, that this Algerian reaction justifies imposing delays on major weapon procurement for future delivery which is a constituent element of our ongoing arms relationship with Morocco, as long as we take no extraordinary steps to expedite deliveries. Moreover, we doubt there will be substantial Congressional opposition to the sale when it is explained that deliveries are two years off. Accordingly, we recommend going ahead with notification to Congress; we would plan to ask State not to send these cases to the Hill in the period immediately preceding the February recess; this will satisfy Congressional desire for 20 days outside of recess to consider this case, and will give us the option of reconsidering notification if fighting flares in the Sahara meanwhile.

Secretary Kissinger has approved the F–5 notification. We understand the DRAGON notification will be decided at the Assistant Secretary level, with staff level recommending notification.

Recommendation

That you concur in notification to Congress of the sale of F–5s and DRAGON missiles to Morocco; following the February recess.

1. Summary: Granger informed Scowcroft of decisions by the Department of Defense and Department of State to notify Congress of pending F–5 and DRAGON sales to Morocco. Granger recommended Scowcroft concur in notifying Congress following the February recess.

   Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Box 4, Morocco (2). Confidential. Sent for action. Concurred in by Oakley and Janka. Scowcroft approved the recommendation. A January 29 memorandum of conversation in which Kissinger and Moroccan special emissary Lamrani discuss military support to Morocco is published as Document 111.