771A.00/6–954: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Joyce) to the Department of State1
confidential
paris, June 9, 1954—8
p.m.
4779. The following are highlights of conversation today with Basdevant Foreign Office regarding Moroccan developments:
- 1.
- Lacoste departs for Morocco June 12 on board Lyautey by which time it is expected that Government will have approved instructions that Foreign Office has been preparing. Hence comments below must be treated with reserve pending final Government action.
- 2.
- Announcement will be made in near future of general lines of long-term program of Morocco indicating various stages of anticipated evolution without, however, specifying time factor or final Moroccan-French relationship.
- 3.
- Emphasis will be placed on fact that reforms announced following deposition of ex-Sultan represent only one step towards final goal. Lacoste will give attention to adaptations which may be desirable in announced reforms and to additional reforms that may be feasible at this time.
- 4.
- Emphasis will be placed on Moroccan sovereignty, stressing that French participation on parity or near-parity basis in institutions provided for in reform program will decrease as Moroccans show capacity for assuming greater responsibilities.
- 5.
- Re dynastic problem no spectacular development to be anticipated in near future. Lacoste will neither urge present Sultan to abdicate nor will he press him to try to build himself up. Replacement of Arafa by second son of Ben Youssef would perhaps satisfy some elements but create new problems. (Impression drawn from Basdevant’s statement was that a change in Sultan by no means precluded but that it will not take place until after Lacoste has had ample opportunity thoroughly to examine all aspects of problems.)
- 6.
- Important changes in residency team can be expected within month or so. Foreign Office view this measure may have greatest impact on Moroccans from psychological standpoint as indication of [Page 642] changed spirit in residency. Basdevant admitted that Jean Daridan (present Minister Washington) most likely choice post of Minister-Delegate but stated final decision not made. (Newspaper correspondent, friend of Daridan, told us Daridan now in Paris and would depart June 12 with Lacoste for Morocco returning Washington several weeks later to spend month of July cleaning up his affairs at Embassy.)
- 7.
- Lacoste has been receiving great variety of delegations from Morocco and other groups interested in Moroccan problems but has made no commitments to any and will wish to spend some time after arrival making contacts and reaching his own conclusions.
Joyce
- This telegram was repeated to Tangier and Rabat.↩