146. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy0
Here are some key questions on which you’ll want to be satisfied at your 10:00 a.m. Tuesday briefing session on Hassan’s visit:
Is our aid package adequate to get us the residual base rights we want? Ambassador Ferguson argues that it is an absolute minimum, and Governor Williams will have further increases up his sleeve. Dave Bell will strongly oppose.
If Hassan rejects our offer, should we go higher? My own sense is that we can and should hold the presently agreed line. King Hassan needs us as much as we need him, Kenitra is not worth more than we’re offering, and we’ve got to get the Moroccans to use our aid effectively instead of relying on a dole from us. We’d also have a hard time selling Congress on giving more aid than before pulling SAC out. In the last analysis the only reason to raise our offer would be if Defense can make an airtight case that Kenitra is worth it and is willing to pay.
Can the Moroccans come up with enough project loans to fulfill our proposed commitment? Hassan knows his government will have trouble coming up with good projects so will resist our proposal to substitute DL for SA. You’ll want to be sure AID will make a major effort to help them. Otherwise we’ll be wide open to Moroccan charges of backing out on our agreement, if they don’t come through with a few decent loan applications.
Should we give Morocco any new military aid? We have numerous reports that Hassan will be asking for everything from F-100s to training for a couple of hundred men. We plan on $5 million naval package as partial rent for Kenitra, but aren’t enthusiastic about giving any sophisticated hardware. You might probe how far DOD sees sense in going.
We’ve simply been unable to smoke out the King’s ideas in advance, so may have to make some quick fixes during the visit or settle for vague agreements in principle which can be pinned down later. Trouble with the latter is that Hassan may again prove elusive, and if we’re going to move Kenitra to Spain we’ve got to start soon.