740.0011 European War 1939/29614: Telegram
The Consul General at Algiers (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:10 p.m.]
986. For the Secretary from Murphy. During the past months several hints have been made that the Sultan of Morocco would be inclined to declare war against Germany and Italy. The latest indication comes through an Arab personality named Cherif Benzidan of Meknes. He states that in a conversation with the Sultan on May 14th the latter stated his readiness to declare war on the Axis Powers and would do so officially and openly in the form of a public address before an American high ranking official. This statement of course is subject to verification.
I should be grateful for your views. Would you welcome such a declaration of war? Would it complicate our Spanish policy? The declaration as proposed would only relate to French Morocco. [Murphy.]