881.001/83
The Chargé at Tangier (Childs) to the
Secretary of State
No. 1719
Tangier, October 2,
1943.
[Received October 16.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Legation’s despatch no. 1715 of October 1,49 concerning the visit to Tangier of Moulay el
Larbi, Khalifa of the Pasha of Marrakesh. More recently Hadj Thami
el-Glaoui, the Pasha of Marrakesh, has himself visited Tangier for the
purpose of effecting the settlement of the affairs of the late Sultan
Abdul Aziz in conformity with the wishes of the present reigning Sultan
of Morocco. However, according to the Legation’s information the Glaoui
has been equally unsuccessful in that effort and has departed with empty
hands. Moulay el Larbi has returned with el-Glaoui to Marrakesh but, it
is reported, will return to Tangier shortly to continue the
negotiations.
The Glaoui is known to the Department as a strong Moroccan Nationalist.
During a recent exchange of visits between him and Mr. Elbrick,50 who was then in charge of the Legation,
the future status of Morocco was discussed. A memorandum of the Glaoui’s
observations regarding this matter is enclosed as of interest to the
Department.
Respectfully yours,
[Page 744]
[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Chargé at Tangier (Elbrick)
When I called upon el-Glaoui to return his call I brought up the
question of the future status of Morocco and asked him just what he
envisaged for the future of this country. El-Glaoui began by saying
that he looked forward to the elimination of protectorates or zones
of influence and the creation of a unified Moroccan state. He said
that the Spanish had done little or nothing for the inhabitants in
the Spanish zone of Morocco and that every Moroccan in both the
French and Spanish zones dislikes them for this reason. He cited the
facts that there are few, if any, good roads, no instruction, and a
very low standard of living amongst the population of the Spanish
Zone. He went on to say that the French had treated the Moroccans
little better in the French Protectorate, his chief complaint being
that the French refused to grant educational facilities to the
inhabitants, who are kept in a state of constant penury. He said
that he and all Moroccan Nationalists are hopeful that the United
States will aid them in the restoration of a Moroccan State in
accordance with “President Roosevelt’s declaration”. He later
explained that by this “declaration” he meant the Atlantic
Charter.51
I said that I could not speak for my Government on this matter, but
that I was sure that the authorities of the American Government
would be interested in hearing his views. I asked him what kind of
aid he desired from the United States, if such aid could be
forthcoming, and he replied “Political, social and economic aid,”
which is somewhat all-embracing. He said that he had been authorized
by the Sultan to speak to any and all American officials in this
manner, since the Sultan himself was not able to do so. It appears
that the Sultan complains that he is not able to see American
officers except in the presence of French officials, and that
consequently he is unable to express his views frankly. He said that
he, el-Glaoui, had spoken in this vein to several officers of the
United States Government in French Morocco and that he was very
hopeful that these talks will bear fruit in the future.
Later, upon leaving, Moulay Larbi, who was present at the interview,
stated that henceforth he felt that the United States would have a
very great interest in Morocco from the point of view of air
communication with Europe and Africa and also, more importantly,
from the point of view of hemispherical defense. He said that he
believes that England and the United States henceforth will have to
maintain bases from Narvik to the Cape of Good Hope and that it will
be impossible for Morocco to be ignored under such conditions.
[Page 745]
He went on to say that as
an intermediate step Morocco after the war should be placed under an
Inter-allied Mandate, in which the United States should play the
principal role, and that experts and technicians of various kinds,
and representing the various Allied Nations, should be sent to
Morocco to exploit and build up the country. At the end of a period
of years, he said, Morocco would then be in a position to assume her
full sovereignty and independence.
Tangier, September 30,
1943.
