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

242. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco¹

185939.

Washington, June 18, 1985, 1839Z

SUBJECT

• McFarlane Visit to Morocco.

1. (S) Entire text.

2. It has been decided at the highest levels of the administration that a visit to Morocco at this time by McFarlane would be inappropriate.

3. President, Secretary Shultz and NSC Advisor McFarlane have given very careful consideration to King Hassan’s invitation to McFarlane to visit Morocco June 21–24. At the time of the President’s telephone conversation with King Hassan,² when the President mentioned that McFarlane would be coming, there was no expectation that the King intended to take any steps which might further reinforce Qadhafi’s regional ambitions or international legitimacy. On the contrary, all held the view that Hassan was sincere in his professed intentions to limit effects of Oujda Treaty and pursue a strategy designed to moderate Qadhafi’s behavior.

4. Consequently, President and his advisors were dismayed by King’s initiative to broaden the Afro-Arab Union to include Chad. Qadhafi’s behavior, as recently recounted to the King, has actually grown worse since the Oujda Accords were concluded, and there is no indication Oujda tie with Morocco will have any restraining effect on him. Inter alia Qadhafi has launched a new campaign against Libyan dissidents abroad,³ including the US, and tried to mount an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. While Hassan had made clear to us the narrow tactical purpose of Oujda, he had also professed that treaty, in addition to serving GOM objectives in Western Sahara and vis-à-vis Algeria, could modify Qadhafi’s behavior and thus serve a purpose consistent with American interests, goals, and values. This has not occurred and the King’s expanding cooperation with Libya makes it undesirable at this time to resume the high level dialogue in the manner that GOM desires. Resumption of this dialogue will depend on USG perception that Hassan’s implementation of the Oujda treaty will not encourage Qadhafi’s ambitions and baser instincts. As long as the King is trying to expand the union without being able to show any countervailing benefits for US interests a McFarlane visit would be counterproductive.

5. With this as background you should inform Foreign Minister Filali that the visit has been postponed, because of our serious concern over recent developments involving Chad and the continuing activities of Colonel Qadhafi. You should tell the Foreign Minister that the President and Secretary of State felt that the timing for such a visit was inappropriate pending clear indications concerning the outcome of the Chadian situation. You should at the same time give him the following message in writing from McFarlane to the King. You may use the material in paras 3–5 to reply to any questions from Filali.

6. Message from NSC McFarlane: begin text:

Your Majesty,

As our Embassy has informed your government I will not be coming to Morocco this month as I had expected to. I am sorry about this change of plans as I had been looking forward very much to the visit. The President and Secretary Shultz had both considered this a good occasion for a thorough exchange of views between out two governments, an opportunity for a discussion of the whole range of issues of mutual interest to Morocco and the US.

However, the great concern of the administration over the situation in Chad and about the continuing activities of Colonel Qadhafi has led to the conclusion that such a trip would be inappropriate at this time and until we can have a clearer view of future developments concerning these subjects. With best regards, Sincerely. End text.

Shultz

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850255–0840. Secret; Immediate. Drafted by Robert Barrett (NEA/AFN); cleared by Johnson (P), Nassif, Raphel, Bishop, McFarlane, McKinley, Bruce Strathearn (S/S–O), and Hill; approved by Shultz.
2. See Document 240.
3. Documentation on Libya’s campaign against dissidents and alleged role in the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Cairo is scheduled for publication in Foreign Relations, 1981–1988, vol. XLVIII, Libya; Chad.