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

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

170682.

Washington, June 29, 1981, 1511Z

For Chargé. Subject: Message From President.

1. (Confidential—Entire text)

2. A few days ago King Hassan sent an oral message to the President² [less than 1 line not declassified] soliciting the President’s support for the referendum proposal on the Sahara which the King planned to make at the Nairobi OAU Summit. Please pass the following oral message from the President to the King as soon as possible.

— The President wishes again to thank Your Majesty for your message which described your intention to propose a referendum at the Nairobi summit. The President wishes you to know that we very much appreciated the receipt of the full text of your planned remarks.

— The President extends his congratulations to Your Majesty for this important and courageous initiative which, he hopes, will lead to the desired peaceful resolution of the Western Sahara matter. The President wishes to bring to Your Majesty’s personal attention the public statement of the Department of State concerning this matter.
Begin text: The United States welcomes the proposals made by King Hassan II of Morocco on June 26 in his speech to the OAU Summit concerning the modalities for compliance with the objectives of the OAU’s Wisemen recommendations. The United States believes that the King’s proposals constitute an important step in seeking a peaceful resolution of the contentious issue of the Western Sahara and hopes that plans for the proposed referendum can be formulated and accepted by the parties concerned in the near future. End text.

— The President hopes that Your Majesty will find our public position helpful to HIM on this auspicious occasion. The President wishes to express his deep appreciation of Your Majesty’s sincere and deep friendship and to assure Your Majesty that these sentiments are fully reciprocated by the President and his entire administration.³

Haig

1. Source: Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, N810006–0124. Confidential; Immediate; Nodis. Drafted by Veliotes; cleared by Crocker, Nance, Seitz, Robert Stern (S/S–O), and in substance by Stoessel; approved by Haig. Sent for information Immediate to the White House.
2. See Tab I, Document 378.
3. In a July 2 memorandum, Allen informed Reagan that Hassan had told Sebastian he had received Reagan’s message and was “delighted with the ‘warmth of its tone and the friendly sentiments which permeated it throughout,’ and asked that his reaction be conveyed to you. He was delighted there were no objections by the White House to publishing the entire text.” (Reagan Library, Executive Secretariat, NSC Head of State File, Morocco: King Hassan II (820564–8206108))