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Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa

Morocco: Document List


Document 108: Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Washington, February 17, 1961.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.5/2-1761. Secret; Presidential Handling. Drafted by Root. A handwritten notation on the source text states that the proposal contained in the memorandum was approved by the White House on February 17. The source text is attached to a memorandum from James K. Penfield (AF) to Secretary Rusk recommending that he send the memorandum to the President along with an accompanying draft letter from President Kennedy to King Mohammed V.


Document 109: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, February 18, 1961, 6:49 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.5622/1-1861. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Root; cleared by Grantham (DOD), Bell, Penfield, and Veliotes; and approved by Hare.


Document 110: Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Washington, February 24, 1961.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Morocco, 1/61-10/61. Secret.


Document 111: Memorandum From the Department of State Executive Secretary (Stoessel) to the President's Special Assistant (Dungan)

Washington, February 27, 1961.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770V.00/2-2761. Confidential. Drafted by McClintic and Root on February 24 and cleared by Ferguson, Root, Penfield, and Hartley and in substance with Lindquist. The source text is attached to a transmittal note from Stoessel to Dungan noting that the Acting Secretary had seen and concurred in the enclosed memorandum on Mauretania.


Document 112: Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Bowles to President Kennedy

Washington, March 28, 1961.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.56311/3-2861. Secret. Drafted by Root on March 22 and cleared by Williams and McGhee.


Document 113: National Security Action Memorandum No. 34

Washington, April 5, 1961.

Source: Department of State, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 34. Secret.


Document 114: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, April 14, 1961, 9 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.5-MSP/3-2861. Secret. Drafted by McClintic, cleared by Junkermann, (DOD), and approved by Witman. Repeated to Paris, Madrid, and CINCEUR.


Document 115: Memorandum Prepared by the Director of Operations for Politico-Military Affairs (Newman)

Washington, May 2, 1961.

Source: Department of State, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 34. Secret. Cleared (in substance) by Williams, Johnson, Gullion, Bell, and Bohlen. The Director of Operations administered a special component for politico-military affairs that served under Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs U. Alexis Johnson. This memorandum was transmitted under cover of a memorandum from Battle to Ralph Dungan at the White House which noted that NSAM No. 34 had directed the Department to explore recommendations for a new policy on the Moroccan bases and to seek the views of the Department of Defense, the CIA, and the ICA. Following preliminary discussions with Paul Nitze of Defense, the Department believed that further examination of the military considerations involved was needed before balanced recommendations taking into account political, military, and intelligence requirements could be made to the President. In the meantime, it was forwarding this interim memorandum on the subject, which had been cleared by Secretary Rusk. (Ibid.) Further documentation on the follow-up to NSAM No. 34 is ibid.


Document 116: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, May 26, 1961, 8:06 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.56311/5-2661. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by McClintic and Root; cleared by Bronez (DOD), Templeton (ICA), Brown, Bohlen, and Newman; and approved by Williams. Repeated to Paris and Madrid.


Document 117: Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Gilpatric) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Lemnitzer)

Washington, June 28, 1961.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 64 A 2382, Morocco, 680.1 Jan.-Aug. 1961. Secret. Drafted by Lang on June 23. Attached to a July 27 memorandum from Assistant Secretary of Defense NITZE to Secretary of Defense McNamara recommending that he sign the attached memorandum to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.


Document 118: Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara

Washington, July 13, 1961.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 64 A 2382, 680.1 Morocco. Top Secret. Attached to the source text but not printed are: Appendix A, “State of Post-1963 Military Requirements for Bases in Morocco”; Appendix B, “Possible Courses of Action To Achieve Military Objectives in Morocco”; and Appendix C, “Suggested Bargaining Positions in Possible Negotiations With Morocco.”


Document 119: Memorandum From the Under Secretary of the Navy (Fay) to President Kennedy

Washington, July 17, 1961.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Morocco, 1/61-10/61. Secret. Attached to a transmittal note from Kenneth O'Donnell to Bundy stating: “The President would like you to read this and give him the benefit of your thinking as rapidly as possible.” A handwritten notation says “done.” (Ibid.)


Document 120: Paper Prepared by the Ambassador to Morocco (Bonsal)

Rabat, August 14, 1961.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.71/8-1461. Attached to a transmittal memorandum from Bonsal to Director of the Office of North African Affairs Witman, dated August 14. On August 24, a copy of Bonsal's recommendations was sent to Robert Komer at the White House. (Ibid., 611.71/8-2461)


Document 121: Memorandum From Secretary of Defense McNamara to the Secretary of the Air Force (Zuckert)

Washington, September 23, 1961.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, Morocco 686, 10 Jan 62. Secret. Drafted by Lang. Attached to a memorandum from Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs William P. Bundy to Secretary McNamara recommending that he sign the attached response to Secretary Zuckert's memorandum, and noting that if he and Under Secretary Bowles approved, the proposed offer would be conveyed to the President.


Document 122: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, September 25, 1961.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM 34. No classification marking.


Document 123: National Security Action Memorandum No. 102

Washington, October 6, 1961.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 64 A 2382, Morocco, 680.1 Sept.-Dec. 1961. Secret. Information copies were sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Director of the U.S. Information Agency, the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.


Document 124: Editorial Note


Document 125: Memorandum Prepared in the Department of Defense

Washington, October 25, 1961.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 64 A 2382, Morocco, 680.1, Sept.-Dec. 1961. Secret. Attached to a memorandum from the Director of Foreign Military Rights Affairs, William E. Lang, to William Witman, stating that the Department of Defense had undertaken to provide a memorandum on its specific post-1963 communications requirements and the ways in which the facilities in Morocco might be converted without jeopardizing the military mission. Noting that the attached memorandum had been cleared in Defense, Lang asked that it be forwarded to Ambassador Bonsal as a basis for discussion with the Moroccans concerning post-1963 communications arrangements. A copy of the memorandum was transmitted to Bonsal on November 9. (Instruction CW-4125; Department of State, Central Files, 771.56311/11-961) On December 5, the Ambassador responded that it was clear from the record of all previous conversations with the King that he assumed that continued operation of the communications sites after 1963 would be predicated upon generous U.S. assistance. Thus, the Embassy was convinced that any proposal to Hassan should be in the form of a comprehensive package covering in detail U.S. post-1963 needs and spelling out the advantages to Morocco of U.S. technical and economic aid. (Telegram 933 from Rabat; ibid., 771.56311/12-561)


Document 126: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, December 5, 1961, 11:07 a.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.7111/12-561. Secret; Niact. Drafted by McClintic on December 1, cleared by Manfull and Smith (White House), and approved by Witman. Also sent to POLAD CINCSAC, Madrid, Paris, and CINCEUR.


Document 127: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, January 5, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM 121. Secret. Attached to the source text is a transmittal note from Komer to Bundy, saying that the President should be informed immediately since an Air Force colonel was ready to leave for Morocco. Komer added: “I also plan NSAM asking for progress report on Moroccan base question to force State to plan scheme for getting assurances at appropriate point.” Another note to Bundy, attached to the source text and signed with the initials “ab,” noted that Komer was very anxious to know the President's reaction and that the Department of Defense was postponing sending the colonel to Rabat until it knew that the President had no objection.


Document 128: National Security Action Memorandum No. 121

Washington, January 10, 1962.

Source: Department of State, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 121. Secret. Copies were sent to the Secretary of Defense and Director, AID.


Document 129: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)

Washington, January 29, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer. Secret.


Document 130: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, February 9, 1962, 1:34 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.5622/1-2762. Secret. Drafted by McClintic, cleared by Whitfield (DOD), and approved by Witman. Repeated to Madrid, Paris, CINCEUR, and CINCSAC for POLAD.


Document 131: Editorial Note


Document 132: Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Ball to President Kennedy

Washington, March 15, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.11/3-1562. Secret. Drafted by McClintic on March 8. A typed notation on the source text indicates that the memorandum was approved by the President on March 23.


Document 133: Telegram From the Embassy in Morocco to the Department of State

Rabat, April 2, 1962, 5 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.56311/4-262. Secret; Limit Distribution.


Document 134: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, April 4, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, Staff Memoranda, Robert W. Komer. Secret.


Document 135: Editorial Note


Document 136: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, April 18, 1962, 7:22 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.56/4-1662. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Witman, Root, and McClintic; cleared by Wolfe, Newman, Valliere, Tasca, and Whitfield (DOD); and approved by Fredericks. Repeated to Paris, Madrid, CINCEUR, and CINCSAC for POLAD.


Document 137: Telegram From the Embassy in Morocco to the Department of State

Rabat, May 4, 1962, 4 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.56/5-462. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Madrid, Paris, CINCEUR, and CINCSAC for POLAD.


Document 138: Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara

Washington, August 3, 1962.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 66 A 3542, Morocco, 686, 10 Jan 1962. Top Secret.


Document 139: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, August 21, 1962.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Morocco, 7/62-12/62. Secret.


Document 140: Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Gilpatric) to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Lemnitzer)

Washington, September 28, 1962.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 65 A 3501, Morocco, 400.3295, 1962. Secret. Copies were sent to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.


Document 141: Letter From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Gilpatric) to the Under Secretary of State (Ball)

Washington, December 26, 1962.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 771.56311/12-2662. Secret.


Document 142: Memorandum for the Record

Washington, January 7, 1963.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 67 A 4564, Morocco, 333-680.1, 1963. Secret. Drafted by Roland A. Paul of the Office of Foreign Military Rights Affairs, Bureau of International Security Affairs, Department of Defense, on January 9. Copies were sent to William Bundy and Sloan.


Document 143: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Williams)

Washington, January 31, 1963.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 67 A 4564, Morocco, 333-680.1, 1963. Secret. Also sent to William Bundy, Hutchinson, and Kitchen, with a copy for Witman.


Document 144: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, March 4, 1963, 6:35 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 15 MOR-US. Secret. Drafted by Newsom and Lang (DOD); cleared by Bundy (DOD), Bell (AID), Newman, and Witman; and approved by Tasca. Repeated to Paris for USCINCEUR and London for USNAVEUR.


Document 145: Memorandum From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) to the Administrator of the Agency for International Development (Bell)

Washington, March 16, 1963.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 15 MOR-US. Secret. Drafted by Warren.


Document 146: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, March 25, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Morocco, Hassan Visit. Secret.


Document 147: Memorandum for the Record

Washington, March 26, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Morocco, Hassan Visit. Secret. Drafted by Komer.


Document 148: Memorandum of Conversation

Washington, March 27, 1963, 4:30 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 15 MOR-US. Secret. Drafted by Glenn on March 28 and approved by the White House on April 1. The meeting was held at the White House. Documentation on King Hassan's visit, including memoranda of conversation and substantive correspondence, is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 66 D 110, CF 2235.


Document 149: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, March 28, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Morocco, Hassan Visit. Secret. A handwritten notation by Komer on the source text reads: “Mac—I gave this to Pres. but I don't think I'll win.”


Document 150: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, March 30, 1963, 3:30 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL MOR-US. Secret; Limit Distribution; Noforn. Drafted by Newsom; cleared by Ferguson, Fredericks, Witman, Rowe, and Rusk (in draft); and approved by Newsom. Repeated to Algiers, Paris, Madrid, London for USNAVEUR, CINCEUR, and POLAD CINCSAC.


Document 151: National Security Action Memorandum No. 232

Washington, April 5, 1963.

Source: Department of State, S/S-NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM 232. Secret. A copy was sent to Kermit Gordon.


Document 152: Memorandum from Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy

Washington, May 8, 1963.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 MOR. Secret.


Document 153: Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy

Washington, August 2, 1963.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Morocco. Top Secret.


Document 154: Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Morocco

Washington, August 7, 1963, 6:39 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 15 MOR-US. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Newsom; cleared by Hilliker, Komer, and Hinman (AID); and approved by Fredericks.


Document 155: Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Regional Affairs (Sloan) to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Gilpatric)

Washington, September 25, 1963.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 67 A 4564, Morocco, 333-680.1, 1963. Secret.


Document 156: Letter From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Bundy) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson)

Washington, October 31, 1963.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 15 MOR-US. Confidential.


Document 157: Editorial Note