Office of the Historian

651.71/10–1554

Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs (Byroade) and the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant) to the Secretary of State1

confidential
[Washington,] October 15, 1954.

Subject:

  • Progress of French Reform in Morocco.

Discussion:

Following a dramatic initiative of Mendes-France in July, the French and Tunisians have been negotiating, with prospects of success, agreements giving the Tunisians a large measure of control over their internal affairs. Although Mendes-France is believed to be equally desirous of developing for Morocco a reform program comparable to that in progress in Tunisia, no solution has been developed for the dynastic problem, which problem has so far prevented bilateral negotiation and real progress. On September 20, Lacoste, the Resident General, admittedly with the UNGA in mind and specifically the US position there on the Moroccan issue, announced an outline of a reform program which, also admittedly, contained nothing new.

The Arab States are currently satisfied about developments in Tunisia but they may nevertheless press for a full scale debate due to the French failure to activate similar developments in Morocco. Delegates inquiring as to the US position have been informed that we are awaiting developments. Ambassador Lodge believes it would be helpful if you would urge Mendes-France to take more effective action in Morocco.

[Page 658]

We have no “answers” to the Moroccan problems and are unable to give more than restrained acknowledgment of the complexity of the situation. Although it is our position that the UNGA can discuss the Moroccan issue, we believe that such a debate would be counter-productive and should be avoided. However, it appears that it can be avoided only if France makes urgent progress in Morocco.

Recommendation:

That you utilize an appropriate occasion for discussing the North African situation with Mendes-France along the following lines:

1.
We commend efforts in Tunisia and hope for their success.
2.
We recognize the difficulties in Morocco but have confidence that French can devise means to make real progress.
3.
We hope some further and perhaps dramatic steps can be taken in Morocco urgently, otherwise the US, because of its relations with the Middle East, could not work to avoid debate in the 9th General Assembly nor a resolution again urging progress through bilateral negotiations.
4.
We reaffirm our support of the French presence in North Africa but again caution that further dissension there will seriously jeopardize the basic interests of the free world community.

  1. This memorandum was drafted by Thomas Simons (NEA) and William Fisher (EUR). A handwritten note on the memorandum stated that the Secretary had seen it.

    Attached to the source text was a memorandum by Merchant to Byroade, dated Oct. 26. It stated that in spite of the recommendations in the source text, as well as four separate reminders to the Secretary while he was in Paris, the question of Morocco was not raised with Mendès-France. (651.71/10–2654) (The Secretary had been in Paris for Nine-Power, Four-Power, and North Atlantic Council meetings Oct. 20–23. For documentation on those meetings, see vol. v, Part 2, pp. 1404 ff.)

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