771.00/8–2153: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 1
609. Department feels any statement regarding Moroccan situation which would not offend French would be too weak to accomplish useful purpose with Arabs. Consequently intends make no public formal statement.2 When asked for comment by press reply being made orally somewhat along following lines attributable to Department “officials”:
The United States Government views with deep concern developments in Morocco including the violence which culminated in the removal of the Sultan. The US regrets any action from any source which disrupts peace in the area.
It will also be emphasized to the press that a basic tenet of this Government’s foreign policy is support for the orderly development of dependent areas towards self-government, and the US will continue to support this policy in conformity with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Further, the press will be told that the US earnestly hopes that there will be an early end to violence in Morocco and the restoration of an atmosphere of calm which would be conducive to orderly progress.
- This telegram was drafted by Cootes (WE/P) and cleared in the offices of Acker (NEA/P) and Wellons (AF). It was repeated to Rabat, Tangier, Casablanca, Cairo, Madrid, Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Baghdad, Jidda, Tripoli, and Tunis.↩
- A memorandum for the record by Knight, dated Aug. 22, summarized a series of telephone conversations he had had with officials of the French Embassy that afternoon. The French called to express indignation over a UP story concerning a Department of State spokesman’s remarks to the press regarding Morocco, and to criticize the idea of making any statement at all, which could only be interpreted as U.S. support for the nationalists and supporters of the previous Sultan. The Department’s spokesman assured Knight he had adhered to the language contained in telegram 609. Later conversations with representatives of the news media disclosed editorial additions on the part of UP. Since the original remarks to the press did not constitute an official government statement, the Acting Secretary said the Department had no obligation to make any further public statement on the matter. (771.00/8–2253)↩