235. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Platt) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (McFarlane)1
SUBJECT
- Relations with Morocco/Presidential Message to King Hassan
On December 10 King Hassan posed to Ambassador Reed (Rabat 11011-NODIS),2 the question “What has the United States done for Morocco in exchange” for access/transit, military exercises, ships’ visits, and other areas of cooperation. Hassan stated that he is “disappointed to note that the friendship is rarely backed up with corresponding substance.”
This theme has been followed up in subsequent conversations with Hassan and high level Moroccan officials. It is now clear that the King expects a response from the President,3 even though the original conversation was cast in rhetorical terms. The King also issued invitations through Ambassador Reed to you and to Ambassador Kirkpatrick to visit Morocco.4
The Executive Branch’s FY–86 assistance request, which essentially straightlines Morocco, will become public when it is presented to the Congress in the very near future. We believe it important to precede this unwelcome news with a Presidential message assuring Hassan of the President’s continuing personal interest.
On January 23, Moroccan Ambassador Jorio informed the Department5 that the King now wants to” send” Minister of Information Filali to deliver a personal message to President Reagan. Filali is close [Page 493] to the King (his son, presently with Sears World Trade in New York, was married to the King’s eldest daughter last September) and the King likely believes that he is better suited as an emissary, with the ability to address issues in the “American style”. Filali is heavily tipped to be the next Prime Minister or Foreign Minister in the new Cabinet which the King is expected to announce on or before March 3. In requesting this meeting, Ambassador Jorio disclaimed knowledge of the substance of the message. He insisted, however, that delivery directly to the President is essential from the King’s point of view, although the meeting could be very brief. The King would like Filali to come at the earliest possible date. Ambassador Jorio requested that this issue be worked through the Moroccan Embassy in Washington rather than through our Embassy in Rabat.
Prior to this, various Moroccan officials had broached with Embassy Rabat the subject of high level visits to Washington. In December and again in January, we discouraged King Hassan from pursuing a personal interest in coming. We also questioned the utility of a visit by Prime Minister Karim-Lamrani who had expressed the desire to bring a delegation of ministers to “lobby” the Congress relative to FY 86 assistance levels.
We understand that the President has endorsed Ambassador Kirkpatrick’s acceptance of the King’s invitation to participate in the Feast of the Throne celebrations on March 3.6 In view of this decision, we believe it would be appropriate to leave Hassan’s invitation to you open at this time. Ambassador Vernon Walters will also attend as the personal guest of the King (virtually an annual event for the Ambassador).
Hassan has stated that he intends to hold Throne Day celebrations in El-Aayoune, the major population center in the Western Sahara. US policy has been not to make high level official visits to the territory while its status is under dispute. Criticism from some European members of the diplomatic corps in Rabat regarding the propriety of attending official ceremonies in the disputed area may move Hassan to dispense with the presence of the corps in El-Aayoune but receive them formally in a Moroccan location, thus avoiding the issue. We note that the Algerians have already weighed in with us and others on the [Page 494] subject of diplomatic representation at an official Moroccan ceremony held in the Western Sahara.
The Department recommends that the President agree to meet briefly with Minister Filali. We further recommend that the President send a message to Hassan which could include reference to the meeting with Filali and Ambassador Kirkpatrick’s visit to Morocco.7
- Source: Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, Morocco: King Hassan II (820564–8206108). Secret; Nodis.↩
- The telegram number is in error. Reference is to telegram 11001; see Document 233.↩
- In telegram 310 from Rabat, January 10, Reed reported that a day earlier, “the King asked me if the President had responded to his message of December 10.” After Reed explained that the letter “was, at his suggestion, still being reviewed, the King asked me to extend a personal invitation to National Security Advisor McFarlane to visit Morocco ‘as soon as possible after the inauguration.’ He said such a visit would provide a good opportunity to review ‘where things stand,’ as well as to provide you with an opportunity to examine on your own the current programs of cooperation between the two countries.” (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Country File, Africa, Morocco (09/21/1984–01/11/1985))↩
- In telegram 314 from Rabat, January 10, Reed reported that Hassan “extended a warm invitation (and at the end of the audience, reiterated the point) for you and Dr. Kirkpatrick to attend the 1985 Fête du Trône.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850021–0334)↩
- No record of Jorio’s discussion with the Department has been found.↩
- In telegram 32898 to Rabat, February 2, the Department indicated that Reagan had accepted Hassan’s invitation to have Kirkpatrick visit Morocco for the Throne Day celebrations, but “NSC Advisor McFarlane will not accept the King’s invitation at this time.” Reagan, the Department added, would receive Filali “briefly and dates are being worked out with Ambassador Jorio.” The telegram also contains the text of a letter from Reagan to Hassan to that effect. (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N850002–0233)↩
- The suggested Presidential message was not attached.↩
- Quinn signed for Platt above this typed signature.↩