Office of the Historian

243. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, September 12, 1979

SUBJECT

  • Moroccan Arms Policy

You agreed at the last V–B–B that Vance would send a recommendation forward on Moroccan arms policy this week and we would promptly have a PRC. State’s preparations have been thrown into turmoil by the fact that Steve Solarz came back from Morocco opposed to loosening up our arms relationship so that Morocco could use the equipment to defend the Western Sahara which they administratively control.2

I believe that it is important to get a fundamental assessment of where developments are heading in Northwest Africa and our policy options. State is, and always has been, strongly pro-Algerian. Morocco has been a good strong friend, but the strength of that regime can be questioned. The war in the Sahara drags on and the Polisario appear to be gaining strength.

In this situation, I believe we should take the time to have a PRM. It should be accompanied by a serious intelligence assessment of the trends in Northwest Africa—political, military and economic. Unlike past PRM’s, it should be prepared on a close-hold basis.

I believe this is far preferable to rushing ahead with an ad hoc decision on Moroccan arms policy. We are under no time pressure from the Moroccans. We have several months in which to make a deliberate, careful decision.

RECOMMENDATION

[Page 591]

That you approve the preparation of a PRM on our policy toward Northwest Africa.3

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 48, PRM/NSC–34. Secret. Aaron drew an arrow pointing to Brzezinski’s name and wrote: “J. Rentschler, get going. DA.”↩
  2. See Document 242.↩
  3. Brzezinski checked the Approve option and wrote at the bottom of the page: “but give it a very short time frame. ZB.”↩