<--PREV Doc #1524  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #1526 Document #1525; May 5, 1960 To King Mohamed V Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Morocco ; Category: Secret The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XX - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace Part IX: Shattered Dreams; March 1960 to July 1960 Chapter 22: Disaster in Paris   Your Majesty:1 I have reflected most carefully upon Your Majesty’s letter of April twenty-second expressing eloquent concern over continuation of the Algerian conflict. In doing so I also recalled the thoughts Your Majesty conveyed to me on this subject at our meeting in Casablanca.2 The United States Government fervently hopes for an early end to this war, and to all the suffering and danger which it entails. Moreover, it continues to be alert to take any feasible step which could be a positive contribution to a just peace in Algeria. I discussed this subject with President de Gaulle during his recent visit to Washington, and in particular I asked him whether his offer of self-determination to the Algerian people remains valid. The President assured me that he stands by this offer, and it remains the official policy of France.3 Since there had been some reports that French policy might have changed, I was relieved to have the President’s assurance, both because I believe that the principle of self-determination is the key to peace in Algeria, and because I repose such confidence in the sincerity and determination of President de Gaulle. In addition, I am most grateful for Your Majesty’s letter of April sixteenth. I have instructed Ambassador Yost to cooperate fully in the discussions which are envisaged.4 Allow me to express once again my personal esteem for Your Majesty and to restate the friendship which all Americans feel for the Moroccan people.5 Sincerely 1 This message, drafted by State Department officials, was sent by cable to the American embassy in Rabat for delivery to King Mohamed (see Dillon to Eisenhower, May 4, 1960, AWF/I: Morocco; see also Public Papers of the Presidents: Eisenhower, 1960 - 61, p. 363). 2 For background on the Algerian conflict see no. 1427. In his message Mohamed had urged Eisenhower to intercede with de Gaulle to end the war in Algeria. "Your intervention with the French government will certainly be effective in putting an end to bloodshed, bringing about peace and stability to this part of the world and stopping fears and threats which are endured by many nations and peoples because of the Algerian war" (Mohamed to Eisenhower, Apr. 22, 1960, AWF/I: Morocco). During Eisenhower’s visit on December 22 the King had emphasized the importance of stability in Algeria, not only to Morocco but to the entire Arab and Moslem world. He supported self-determination for Algeria and said that Morocco was "always willing to act as a peacemaker" (State, Foreign Relations, 1958 - 1960, vol. XIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute; United Arab Republic; North Africa, pp. 795 - 96, 806 - 7; for more on Eisenhower’s eleven-nation trip see no. 1382). 3 On the Eisenhower-de Gaulle discussions see no. 1516; on the French president’s proposal for Algerian independence see no. 1309. 4 Mohamed had written in reply to Eisenhower’s letter of March 30 regarding the dismantling of U.S. bases in Morocco (see no. 1489). The King had assured Eisenhower that Morocco would never allow a hostile third party to occupy the bases and had accepted the President’s offer to train Moroccans to operate the facilities (Mohamed to Eisenhower, Apr. 16, 1960, AWF/I: Morocco). 5 After reading this letter on May 9, King Mohamed would note that prompt action was needed to halt the deterioration of the Algerian situation. He also stated that his foreign ministry would establish a commission to study the base problem and pursue negotiations with the United States (ibid., p. 807). Eisenhower would discuss U.S.-Moroccan relations with Crown Prince Moulay Hassan in New York on September 27 (see John S. D. Eisenhower, Memorandum of Conference, Sept. 27, 1960, AWF/D). Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. Secret To King Mohamed V, 5 May 1960. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 1525. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/second-term/documents/1525.cfm <--PREV Doc #1524  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #1526

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