771.00/8–2453: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State1
715. In view press reports Arab-Asian bloc request to UNSC for investigation French action Morocco2 and posssible developments flowing therefrom, Embassy recommends that US Government either vote against such request or abstain for following reasons:
Regardless of French actions or failure to act prior to recent developments in Morocco, we are now faced with fait accompli which French Government justifies on grounds any other course would have led to very threat to peace of which Arab-Asian bloc now complains. French Government maintains that action to remove former Sultan and seating of new Sultan have approval of large majority of Moroccans. General Guillaume in press conference at Rabat on August 20 spoke of “democratizing Morocco gradually at all levels” and of bringing Moroccans into administration of country. Present situation cannot be reversed and French will obviously use force to put down any attempt to do so. French would not permit UN investigation and UN attempt to send any commission to Morocco for this purpose would lead to French refusal permission entry and to worse strained relations between France and UN than was case when Moroccan-Tunisian problem last brought before UN. For US Government now to question French actions in recent developments would in sense be equivalent to denying accuracy of French official statements. To do so publicly would seem to require presentation of some evidence to back up such charges. That would appear difficult, if not impossible, to do. Whatever we do will be closely observed by Moroccans as well as Tunisians. Action to censure France would probably give encouragement to Istiqlal and other opponents of French and might play part in setting off campaign of terrorist activities designed to prove to UN that danger to peace did exist. Effect of such developments on French public opinion and French attitudes toward US are easy to imagine, to say nothing of possibilities of increased inflamed opinion throughout North Africa against French, and eventually USA.
We suggest, therefore, that while being careful not to endorse recent French actions, we both privately to French and publicly in UN make [Page 627] clear our expectation that, as stated by Resident General, France will go forward with genuine reform program designed to bring about development of Morocco toward self-government and increased Moroccan participation in administration. Only thus will there be hope for peace and order and UN interjection into question would tend prevent very aim it endeavors to bring about.
If from strictly legal standpoint we should make any reservations re recent Moroccan changes, these could be made subject direct discussions with French Government.
In this connection, today’s Nyht carries front page story by Homer Bigart under Washington dateline headed “US objects to action of France in Morocco”, in which he quotes French Embassy spokesman as saying “we know of no expression of dissatisfaction” by State Department or its representatives re recent French actions Morocco. This story has not yet been picked up by French press. While most non-Communist French press has been critical of recent French policy in Morocco, there seems to be belief that France should now formulate policy to be faithfully implemented by French representatives Morocco. There are reports that Blesson, Boniface and Vallat may all be removed and Guillaume seems to be slated for a NATO position, once latter entirely unconnected with recent Moroccan developments. If French are endeavoring to start with clean slate, it would be more constructive for us to assist them than to take action which would make their task more difficult.
It is difficult to see how we can really please Arab-Asian bloc without voting for UN investigation. Therefore, we believe that US should take action which would to extent possible avoid placing us in position which would give us worst of both worlds, i.e., not pleasing Arab-Asian group and arousing strong French resentment.
- This telegram was repeated to Rabat and Tangier.↩
- USUN telegram 123, Aug. 21, transmitted the text of a letter from the Asian-African bloc to the Secretary-General, concerning the deposition of the Sultan. The letter requested him to call a meeting of the Security Council to investigate the danger to international peace caused by French actions in Morocco. The final paragraph of the telegram informed the Department of State that Security Council members generally agreed to a meeting on Aug. 26. Dr. Charles Malik, the Ambassador of Lebanon, called the Department on Aug. 21 to request U.S. support for inscription of the item on the Security Council agenda. Documentation is in Department of State file 330.↩