Office of the Historian

193. Memorandum From Secretary of State Haig to President Reagan1

Washington, May 11, 1981

Moroccan Foreign Minister’s Visit. Foreign Minister Boucetta delivered a warm, friendly message to us from Morocco and King Hassan this afternoon.2 We agreed that Libya was the major source of trouble in North and Central Africa. Boucetta did not criticize Algeria; instead, he suggested that there were moderate elements in the Algerian leadership, who should be encouraged. Boucetta believed that Morocco’s position on the Western Sahara would gain additional African support at the upcoming Nairobi OAU Summit.3 He asked that we encourage such support. Boucetta expressed gratitude for our efforts to secure additional economic and food assistance. (Responding to a press query afterwards, he indicated Morocco may seek additional military aid in the future.) Finally, Boucetta shared our assessment of the dangers in Lebanon. He pledged Morocco’s help for our efforts to stabilize the situation.

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Agency File, Secretary Haig’s Evening Report (05/09/1981–06/05/1981). Secret.↩
  2. A record of the Haig-Boucetta meeting is in telegram 128429 to Rabat, May 16. (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Africa, Morocco (04/30/1981–06/09/1981))↩
  3. The OAU Summit was held in Nairobi June 24–27. Boucetta and Bush discussed the Western Sahara issue on May 12. A record of that conversation is in telegram 139368 to Rabat, May 29. See Document 377.↩