Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume XXIV, North Africa

206. Memorandum for the Record¹

Washington, May 26, 1982

SUBJECT

• DCI Meeting with King Hassan II of Morocco

1. On 20 May 1982, from 1740 to 1850 hours, the DCI met with King Hassan of Morocco at Blair House. General Ahmad Dlimi, Ambassador Reed and the undersigned were also present. The principal topics discussed were as follows:

a. [1 line not declassified]

b. The impending OAU Summit and Qadhafi’s chairmanship.

c. The Saharan conflict.

d. Efforts to end the Iran-Iraq war.

e. [1½ lines not declassified]

f. Soviet activities in Morocco.

g. [1 line not declassified]

2. [1 paragraph (10 lines) not declassified]

3. The DCI asked for the King’s opinion as to a strategy for handling the upcoming OAU Summit, noting that the Egyptians have the idea of holding a pre-summit which would be a continuation of the aborted Addis Ababa Foreign Ministers Conference which resulted in the seating of the Polisario. Without responding specifically on the Egyptian idea, the King said that immediately following his visit to Washington, he would send his Foreign Minister Mohammad Boucetta officially to Cairo. [3½ lines not declassified] It is imperative that Morocco have on its side the vital one-third of the OAU membership in order to block a quorum. Three or four more countries are needed and the U.S. could be helpful by using its influence on Nigeria and Kenya. The King said it was inconceivable to think of Qadhafi as head of the OAU for the upcoming year. [2 lines not declassified] If this comes about, he observed, it should be easier for a concerted action to be developed against Qadhafi’s chairmanship.

4. Turning to the Sahara problem, King Hassan [8 lines not declassified] said that the only way to get out of the Sahara “process” was to apply the decisions of the Nairobi summit, that is, a cease fire and referendum. The King promised to keep the DCI informed [less than 1 line not declassified].

5. Referring in turn to Algeria, [3½ lines not declassified] in the framework of the Islamic conference (IC). Hassan dismissed this idea, saying that as far as the IC is concerned, there already is a mediation sub-committee at work under the chairmanship of Sekou Toure, and it has been unsuccessful so far. As for Algeria, [2 lines not declassified]. He argued that no one has any real influence over Iran. He had proposed to Secretary of State Haig (“the sharpest Secretary of State I have seen”) that the U.S. sponsor a cease-fire initiative in the UN Security Council. It would be difficult for anyone to pose a veto, as one cannot stand against a cease-fire and peace. [5 lines not declassified] The King said he was hopeful that the U.S. would make a move on 21 May for a cease-fire in the UN. [8½ lines not declassified]

6. [1 paragraph (20½ lines) not declassified]

7. [1 paragraph (15½ lines) not declassified]

8. [1 paragraph (17½ lines) not declassified]

9. The King is worried about Soviet actions against Morocco in the economic sphere, in reaction against Morocco’s rapprochement with the U.S. He cited two recent Soviets actions in this regard. First, the Soviets have reduced their purchase of Moroccan oranges from 250,000 tons to 50,000 tons this year. Second, they have stopped buying Moroccan wine. The King found a recent editorial in the communist paper Al Bayane to be instructive. The paper welcomed the King’s visit to the U.S. but added pointedly that the rapprochement should not be at the expense of the Morocco’s other ties.

10. [1 paragraph (14½ lines) not declassified]

[name not declassified]
Chief, Near East and South Asia Division

1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 83M00914R: Box 17, C–379, Morocco. Secret. [less than 1 line not declassified].