740.00112 European War 1939/2897
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Memorandum
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom have considered with great interest the statement regarding United States policy towards Morocco made by Mr. Sumner Welles to His Majesty’s Ambassador on January 29th73 and by Mr. Berle to Sir Gerald Campbell on the same day [January 28].74 They, for their part, would welcome United States interest in Morocco. Although they are not as confident as the United States Government appear to be that General Weygand will enter the war, they are ready to support the United States policy based on this assumption, provided that no serious breach in the blockade is thereby involved. They would consequently agree to the supply of essential requirements to Morocco by the United States, provided that excessive stocks are not built up and that steps are taken to see there is no risk of the goods reaching the enemy. For this purpose His Majesty’s Government regard it as essential that United States officials should be appointed at ports and on the railways, and they understand that the French authorities in Morocco would accept their supervision. If desired by the United States Government, His Majesty’s Government would be willing to include Algeria and Tunisia in the agreement provided that guarantees against re-export could be made really effective; they cannot themselves hope to control shipments across the Mediterranean in present circumstances. His Majesty’s Government are of opinion that it is important to exclude West Africa for the time being, in view of their [Page 254] relations with the free French Colonies, though they would in any event have to consult General de Gaulle on this point. It is assumed that there is no present intention to include French Somaliland or Madagascar.
2. The following, however, is the point to which His Majesty’s Government attach the most importance. They confess to some anxiety that the approaches which the United States authorities have made to the Moroccan authorities without previous consultation may have endangered negotiations of their own, some indication of which was given in a memorandum handed to Mr. Berle on January 29th [28th], for a similar agreement.
In these negotiations the principal stipulation made by His Majesty’s Government was for the release of British and Allied and neutral ships, detained in Moroccan ports. With the present dire need of shipping, this is a vital point. There will be strong opposition to this release from the German Armistice Commission, and if the Moroccan authorities feel that they can obtain all they require from the United States, the hopes entertained by His Majesty’s Government of obtaining the ships will disappear.
3. The United States Government having, as His Majesty’s Government believe, gone further than themselves in negotiating with the Moroccan authorities, His Majesty’s Government are content that the United States authorities should lead in these negotiations, always provided that His Majesty’s Government obtain possession of the detained ships. His Majesty’s Government therefore earnestly hope that the United States Government will make this release of these ships an essential condition of their agreement, pointing out to the Moroccan authorities that His Majesty’s Government cannot be expected to grant immunity to ships carrying supplies to Morocco while the tonnage which they urgently need is detained there.
4. His Majesty’s Government would also hope to secure the return of British Consuls to Morocco as a condition of their approval of the agreements; this though not so important would probably be easier to obtain.
5. His Majesty’s Government are also anxious to get some undertakings in writing from General Weygand as to his future attitude before acquiescing or collaborating in economic assistance to North Africa, and they are instructing their Representative to endeavor to obtain such undertakings, if he is able to go to Algeria to see General Weygand.
6. His Majesty’s Government would greatly welcome the opportunity to comment on the text of any agreements which may be drawn up between the United States representative in Morocco and the French authorities, and they hope that the United States Government will [Page 255] await these comments before definitely committing themselves to any draft agreement.