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

245. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy Morocco¹

239050.

Washington, August 3, 1985, 1727Z

SUBJECT

• Presidential Letter to King Hassan—S/S #8522806.

1. Secret—Entire text

2. Following for your information is the text of President Reagan’s letter to King Hassan which Deputy Secretary Whitehead will deliver during his forthcoming visit:

Quote: Your Majesty: John Whitehead is visiting Morocco during his first trip overseas since his appointment as Deputy Secretary of State. I am particularly pleased he will meet you and have asked him to convey my continuing high regard for you and the Kingdom of Morocco. He is prepared to discuss a number of issues in the spirit of candor and friendship which characterizes our personal and official relationships.

I have asked Secretary Whitehead particularly to raise with you two issues he discussed with your Prime Minister in Washington on July 29.

The first is the Western Sahara. We have a continuing concern that the Western Sahara dispute could spread to Mauritania or even lead to direct conflict between Morocco and Algeria. We have discussed recent developments with both your government and that in Algiers. Again, I urge that every step be taken to avoid escalation.

Your Majesty, I am convinced that only a negotiated solution to this problem has any prospect of durability and stability. I hope that the direct, high-level negotiations between you and the Algerians will be renewed and ultimately lead to success.

I have also asked Secretary Whitehead to explore with you the dangers to regional peace posed by Colonel Qadhafi, including his undiminished support of international terrorism. My purpose is not to infringe in any way on your sovereign responsibilities. As National Security Advisor McFarlane stated to Prime Minister Karim-Lamrani,² while my confidence in and friendship for you is steadfast, I remain puzzled over your strategy for dealing with Qadhafi.

Nonetheless, we both must candidly acknowledge that this issue remains the major irritant in the relationship between our two nations. I therefore would appreciate your sharing with Secretary Whitehead your assessment of Qadhafi and his objectives. I have publicly stated that I consider Qadhafi’s Libya as one of the five states most directly involved in sponsoring international terrorism.³ I did so after reviewing carefully what my government knows of the activities spawned in Tripoli.

Last September, when General Walters first expressed to you my very deep concerns about Morocco’s new relationship with Qadhafi,⁴ you conveyed through him your hope that you could quote tame unquote Qadhafi and bring him toward acceptable international behavior. Sadly, the record does not show that Qadhafi has modified his policies. Rather, he continues to seek every opportunity to foment discord, to plot against his neighbors, and to terrorize and assassinate those Libyans at home and abroad who may have a different vision for their country. The menace posed by Qadhafi is clear, palpable, and growing. Many of our mutual friends in Africa feel the same way. We strongly believe that the regime in Libya should be isolated politically and economically until there is a real change in Qadhafi’s policies.

Your Majesty, you are a great and good friend who shares many values and objectives with the people and Government of the United States of America. We wish to continue our close relationship which has served our common goals so well. We can best do so by maintaining our dialogue, both through visits such as that by Secretary Whitehead and through Ambassador Thomas Nassif, who will arrive in Morocco shortly to take up his duties as my representative. Ambassador Nassif has my full and complete confidence, and I am certain he will be a most able envoy to the Kingdom of Morocco.

I know you will accept these views in the spirit of concerned amity in which they are sent. I have asked Secretary Whitehead to report personally to me the results of your conversations.

Please accept the expressions of my highest regard which Nancy joins me in sending. Sincerely, Ronald Reagan. End quote.

Armacost

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850255–0840. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted with text received from the White House; cleared by Joann Alba (S/S–S), Joseph Timbie (D), McKinley, and Janet Andres (S/S–O), and in draft by Zweifel; approved by Murphy.
2. No record of the McFarlane-Karim Lamrani meeting has been found.
3. On July 8, in his remarks before the American Bar Association, Reagan identified Iran, Libya, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Cuba, and Nicaragua as five state sponsors of international terrorism. For text of the address, see Public Papers: Reagan 1985, Book II, pp. 894–900.
4. See Document 229.