194. Telegram From the Embassy in Morocco to the Department of State1
4133.
Rabat, June 12, 1981, 1130Z
NODIS. For the President from Secretary Edwards. Dept for White House. Subject: Secretary Edwards’ Visit: OAU: King Hassan’s Message to the President.
[Page 425]- 1.
- S—Entire text.
- 2.
- In wide-ranging 80 minute conversation with me June 11, King Hassan II requested that the following message be relayed to President Reagan “discretely and securely”. Hassan said he plans to attend the Nairobi Summit of the Organization of African Unity O/A June 23 and he “hopes” that “now that we are in the last round” (in the Sahara) he will be able to bring about an end to the Saharan affair. King said he wants Egypt’s President Sadat to attend the meeting, “even if only for one day”. He explained that Arab/African delegations from Algiers, Tunisia (although Bourguiba would not attend), Libya, Mauritania, Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti would be there creating an opportunity which King would like put to use. Hassan indicated that Sadat’s presence could help bring the Arabs closer together and—eventually—break the ice between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
- 3.
- Hassan asked that the President approach Sadat without in any way indicating that this was at the King’s urging. Sadat should be told that the King of Morocco planned to attend the OAU summit, that he would be the only leader of a non-rejectionist state there, and that some contact could be timely and helpful. The King asked that he be advised promptly and discretely of President Reagan’s reaction, and of Sadat’s response if an approach is made, via Charge Sebastian.
- 4.
- Comment: I strongly recommend that such an approach be made; while substance of my conversation with King will be communicated separately,2 it is clear that King’s disposition to administration is highly favorable (King compared President Reagan with President Eisenhower, “men who inspire confidence”) and that King’s geopolitical thinking is insightful, alert to Soviet menace, and generally consistent with broad USG interests in Middle East, North Africa and Mediterranean.
- 5.
- Please advise soonest.
Sebastian
- Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Africa, Morocco (06/12/1981–07/21/1981). Secret; Immediate; Nodis; Sensitive. Printed from a copy that indicates the original was received in the White House Situation Room.↩
- A record of the Edwards-Hassan conversation is in telegram 4163 from Rabat, June 13. (Ibid.)↩