Office of the Historian

236. Memorandum of Conversation1

Washington, February 22, 1985, 9:50–10 a.m.

SUBJECT

  • Meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Filali (U)

PARTICIPANTS

  • The President
  • The Vice President
  • Donald T. Regan
  • Robert C. McFarlane
  • Deputy Secretary Kenneth Dam
  • Acting Assistant Secretary Arnold Raphel
  • Ambassador Joseph V. Reed
  • Howard R. Teicher
  • Alex Toumayon (Interpreter)
  • Abdellatif Filali, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Maati Jorio, Ambassador to the United States

President Reagan opened the discussion by congratulating Filali on his reappointment as Foreign Minister. He then provided Filali with a photograph of the President and His Majesty King Hassan, and asked [Page 495] Filali to carry the photograph and the President’s warmest regards to King Hassan. (U)

Foreign Minister Filali began his presentation by expressing how deeply honored he felt to be received by the President. King Hassan, through Filali, expressed his friendship and very high regard for the President. Noting that the King had not yet seen the President since the beginning of the second term, King Hassan never doubted the friendship which the President had extended to Morocco. Filali described the visit of the Prime Minister one year ago as a demonstration of Moroccan cooperation and friendship.2 King Hassan “stresses the irreversible nature of Moroccan friendship and alliance with the United States. Perhaps from time-to-time, some situations appear not to conform to this fact.” But Filali confirmed that no fundamental changes could occur in Morocco’s policy. Morocco has always been a member of the West and the Free World. Friendship with the United States is an important tradition in Morocco. King Hassan is convinced that the moment is opportune to reopen discussions on bilateral issues and regional problems. King Hassan places particular emphasis on Moroccan willingness to extend military facilities to the United States to defend the Free World. Filali continued that the region’s problems “require restructuring, and the United States can play a moderating role to find solutions to problems that divide the region.” Filali ended his message from King Hassan by extending the King’s invitation to the President to make a visit to Morocco in the context of the President’s trip to Europe in May.3 Filali noted that it was a tradition of Republican Presidents to visit Morocco. Eisenhower did so immediately after Morocco achieved its independence,4 and this example of U.S. support was a great comfort to the Moroccan people. (S)

President Reagan asked Filali to convey to His Majesty that American friendship has not lessened. The King should be assured that the U.S. values this friendship very highly.5 With regard to a visit, the President noted the complications, but said “if it is possible, I would like to visit.” The President thanked Filali for carrying King Hassan’s message. (C)

Filali thanked the President for his kind words for Morocco and repeated his hope that the President would visit Morocco. (U)

  1. Source: Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs, Records of Assistant Secretary of State Richard Murphy, 1985: Lot 87D431, Memos, AFN, February 1985. Secret. Prepared by Teicher. The meeting took place in the Oval Office. In a February 9 memorandum to Gregg, Platt wrote: “Hassan is increasingly sensitive to what he judges is American coolness in the relationship since the Oujda treaty. Confronted with mounting economic difficulties, Hassan is turning to us for support.” Platt also noted that Bendjedid’s impending visit “provides yet another cause for unease at a time of flux in relationships in the Maghreb.” (Ibid.)↩
  2. See Document 224.↩
  3. Reagan visited Western Europe April 30–May 10. Documentation on the visit is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. VIII, Western Europe, 1985–1988.↩
  4. Eisenhower visited Casablanca on December 22, 1959.↩
  5. In telegram 56991 to Rabat, February 26, the Department reported that during his February 21 meeting with Filali, Shultz agreed that “it is important to renew and reenergize periodically all elements of a relationship. He said it is time to put problems behind us and to move and build the relationship.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850129–0199)↩