104. Letter From President Johnson to King Hassan1
Your Majesty,
Let me take advantage of Ambassador Ferguson’s presence in Washington to send my personal greetings and best wishes. We recall with pleasure your visit last year, and I want to assure you that I have the same friendly interest in Morocco’s progress under your leadership that you found in President Kennedy during your talks with him.
In fact, we Americans have closely followed your personal role in creating institutions designed to modernize Morocco. It is gratifying to see that Morocco has chosen a moderate course—that it is a country where political parties can operate and where massive efforts are being made to educate the people to play an ever more productive role in the development of their country.
Your steps to improve the management of your government’s resources and to strengthen the economy are of special interest to me. I realize that neither the political nor the economic path before you is an easy one. As you know, I too am engaged in a major effort here to stimulate adequate economic growth and meet growing popular needs while pursuing sound fiscal policies. We both realize what a difficult task this is, but I think we both share the conviction that the internal strength we are trying to build is the very foundation of freedom and political stability.
I will count on Ambassador Ferguson to keep me informed of your continued progress, and trust that you will not hesitate to convey to me through him or directly your thoughts on ways in which we can strengthen the close and historic ties between our two countries.2
With all good wishes,
Sincerely,
- Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Special Heads of State Correspondence File, Morocco—King Hassan Correspondence. Secret.↩
- In telegram 1495 from Rabat, June 29, Charge L. Dean Brown reported that, at the King’s request, he delivered the President’s message that morning to Driss M’Hammedi, Director of the Royal Cabinet. (Department of State, Central Files, POL MOR–US)↩