183. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco1
24299. Eyes Only for Ambassador Duke from HH Saunders. Subject: U.S. Use of Moroccan Facilities.
1. Secret–Entire text.
2. The Chairman of the JCS, General Davey Jones, asked me to let you know of a conversation which he had with Colonel Kabbaj, Chief of the Moroccan Air Force, during his visit here. Davey asked Colonel Kabbaj—explicitly stating that he was not asking for anything—what the Colonel thought the Moroccan Government’s view would be if the [Page 439] U.S. asked Morocco for use of military facilities in Morocco in connection with trouble that we might have with the Soviet Union in the Middle East. Colonel Kabbaj on the spot responded unequivocally that we could use Moroccan facilities for that purpose and would be welcome to send a survey team to Morocco to determine what facilities would be available in relation to possible U.S. needs. The Colonel then said that he would consult with King Hassan, and General Jones said that he was not asking for that right now. The Colonel said that he was going to do it anyway and came back a day later with confirmation, reportedly from the King, of his position. Colonel Kabbaj had one request—if we begin talking formally with the Government of Morocco on this subject, that you talk directly and only with the King in the first instance and not with the Foreign Ministry.
3. This message is not intended as an instruction to you to take any step at this point. We simply want to alert you to this background of any future instruction and to pass on to you the request that, if this subject comes up in any way that requires discussion with the Moroccan Government before you receive instructions, you talk in the first instance only with the King.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 56, Morocco: 9/79–1/81. Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Saunders; cleared by Coon; approved by Saunders.↩