Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Africa and South Asia, Volume XI, Part 1

771.00/8–2053: Telegram

The Ambassador in France ( Dillon ) to the Department of State ¹

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Paris , August 20, 1953—6 p.m.

672. Embtel 649, August 19.² Marchal informed us this afternoon of action just taken by Guillaume to depose Sultan,³ as Agence France Press and AP ticker reports came out announcing this move. Marchal gives us following account of latest developments:

1. Guillaume saw Glaoui six o’clock this morning in effort effect compromise. He asked Glaoui withdraw his opposition provided Sultan renounced Istiqlal. (Marchal stressed this for confidential information United States Government only.) This Glaoui refused to accept and Guillaume so informed Paris. Glaoui’s forces reported moving toward Rabat. Council Ministers thereupon reached decision France could not meet forces backing Glaoui with French troops and only course open was to obtain Sultans abdication or to depose him. Sultan refused to abdicate and Guillaume therefore had Sultan with two sons removed by plane to Corsica. Sultan did not offer resistance.

2. Next problem is that of Sultan’s successor and he is likely to be “a third Sultan”, i.e., neither the present one nor Glaoui’s choice. Choice expected to be named by Grand Vizir, who is for time being ranking Moroccan official. Foreign Office position is this matter for Moroccan decision and French Government has no intention intervening.

3. It is feared that constant acts terrorism similar to Tunisian situation may now result.

Separate telegram being sent re question security United States citizens.⁴

Dillon

1. This telegram was repeated to Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, and Frankfort.
2. Supra .
3. Rabat telegram 94, Feb. 3, 1954, informed the Department of State that the official information bulletin for January 1954, No. 38, p. 31, contained a statement that on Aug. 20, 1953, the Resident General had requested the “ex-Sultan” to abdicate in favor of his younger son, Moulay Abdullah. When the Consul asked a member of the Residency about the statement, he was told that it was true. The Resident General had felt that the nationalist connections of Moulay Hassan, the Sultan’s older son, made him unsuitable for the position. (771.00/2–354)
4. Telegram 658 from Paris, Aug. 20, reported the Embassy was keeping military officials informed of developments in Morocco. The two groups had discussed the possibility of sending additional security personnel and, if necessary, evacuating civilians to Algiers. The Embassy stressed, however, that the United States should avoid creating any impression of needless alarm, or of a feeling that the United States considered the situation had deteriorated to the point where evacuation was being considered. (771A.00/8–2053)