LETTER TO YOUR MAJESTY FROM FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R004100140002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2002
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 4, 1943
• Content Type: LETTER

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COPIED:NEA:AF:PRC
COMPARED : PRC : FI?-
February 4, 1943
Your Majesty (written in longhand)
I am happy to tell you that I have safely
returned to the White House and that I have given
your very wonderful gifts to Mrs. Roosevelt. She
is delighted with them, and with their beautiful
workmanship and design. They will form a most
interesting part of our family collections, and
I want you to know how grateful I am.
Also, may I tell you what a very great
pleasure it was to meet you at Casablanca and
that I much hope that we can meet again soon.
There are many things in regard to the future
which I should like to talk over with you. I
hope much that you will be able to visit me in
Washington just as soon as this dreadful war is
over, and that you will bring with you your
fine son, the Crown Prince.
I have been much impressed with the
beauties and with the future that undoubtedly
lies before Morocco. In its development I feel
sure that you can count on the truly unselfish
aid from the people of the United States.
Believe me, Sir,
Your true friend (written in longhand)
Franklin D. Roosevelt
P. S. May I take this occasion to send my
warm regards to H.R.H. the Crown
His Sherifian Majesty, Prince, and to your Grand Vizier, and
Sidi Mohammed, to your Chef de Protocol? (written in
Sultan of Morocco longhand)
State Dept. review completed
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July 19, 1955
FROM : AF - I
Attached is the letter of February L,
1943 from President Roosevelt to the Sultan
of Morocco, along with copies of several
other documents which are of interest in
connection with the letter. The photostat
from which the copy of the letter was
typed is accompanied by a certificate from
the Archivist of the United States that it
is a true copy of the original in the
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library.
I am also sending along to you copies
of an exchange of letters between President
Roosevelt and the Sultan of Morocco which
took place in November 1942. I have a hunch
that the Roosevelt letter in this exchange
is the letter to which President Eisenhower
has had reference.
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COPIED:NEA:AF:PRC
C0MPARED: PRC : PR c-
(Translation
AF : M'MQ; hcb
2/13/48)
Copied from LA PRESSE MARCCAINE, January 18, 1948.
ROOSEVELT DID NOT PROMISE THE INDEPENDENCE OF MOROCCO
to His Majesty the Sultan
PARIS, January 17.--Maurice Ferro, special correspondent of the
"Monde" in Washington, cabled his paper the following information:
The alleged promises of independence which Roosevelt is pur-
ported to have made in 1943 to the Sultan of Morocco are beginning
to assume the aspect of a "seasonal" argument--such is the impression
which may be gained from political circles in Washington.
It is emphasized that a clarification of this matter had im-
mediately brought Abdel Rahaman Azzam to his senses after his very
arbitrary statements of last June. It is also pointed out that the
plans of the Secretary General of the Arab League surprised the
Secretariat of State due to their sharp contrast with the restraint
which Azzam Pasha had shown in the course of the interview which
General Marshall had granted him several days before.
It is pointed out also that Shereefian policy would be in error
if it founded on these "promises" its spectacular demands. We have
been told in authorized circles that one would search in vain for
any evidence (of such promises) in the official files. There exists
absolutely no document relating to the famous promises of Casablanca.
The statement is emphatic and requires no comments.
The interest which the United States has shown in affairs of
the Middle East and United States intercession between Great Britain
and Egypt are aimed at ensuring peace and equilibrium in the Mediter-
ranean. It is felt in Washington that France acquits itself well of-.this
mission in the western section; why then should the United States
involve itself in a matter which is purely French?
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CO?'IEM: NEA: AF: PRC
COMPARED: PRC: p/fr CONFIDENTIAL
DISCUSSIONS AT THE CASABLANCA CONFERENCE RELATING TO
MOROCCAN INDEPENDENCE, AS RECORDED IN AMERICAN SCURCFS
Elliott Roosevelt, in As He Saw It, pp. 110-111, records a
dinner conversation between resident"Toosevelt and the Sultan of
Morocco on January 22, 1943. The conversation took place in French,
apparently without interpreters. The following passage is pertinent:
"The Sultan . . . raised the question of what Father's
advice would entail, insofar as the French government of the
future was concerned.
"Father . . . remarked . . . that the postwar scene
and the prewar scene would, of course, differ sharply,
especially as they related to the colonial question."
Robert E. Sherwood, in Roosevelt and Hopkins, pp. 689-690, prints an
informal account of the dinner by Harry Hopkins, which contains
nothing on the subject of Moroccan independence. The Sherwood account
is a slight condensation of the original Hopkins notes in the Roosevelt
Library at Hyde Park, but the original notes contain nothing on
Moroccan independence either.
On January 23, 1943, Harry Hopkins, accompanied by Brigadier
General Vi. H. Wilbur, had a conversation at Casablanca with the
Grand Vizier of Morocco, who was accompanied by the Moroccan Director
of Protocol, Si Mammeri. The following extracts from General Wilbur's
notes of this conversation (obtained from the Hopkins papers in the
Roosevelt Library) are pertinent:
"The Grand Vizier made it clear that the matters to be
discussed must be made known only to the President and that
no power other than the U.S. should know of the interview.
"1j.th Question.
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"lath Question.
"The Sultan is certain that the war will end in a
victory for the U.S. This victory will be followed by a
treaty of peace. When the time arrives to discuss the
conditions of the peace it is the Sultan's intention to
throw himself in the arms of Mr. Roosevelt. Provided
Ivir. Roosevelt will accept him and his country.
"If Mr. Roosevelt accepts the Sultan proposes to hold
a plebescite of his people. The Sultan is certain that all
his people both in French and Spanish Morocco will be in
agreement and wish to place their future in Mr. Roosevelt's
hands.
"The Grand Vizier stated that this last subject was one
concerning which he requested that absolute secrecy be main-
tained., that he desired that it be presented only to
Mr. Roosevelt. Mr. Hopkins stated that it would be for
Mr. Roosevelt's ears alone.
"Mr. Hopkins stated that he could make a general reply
now as he is thoroughly familiar with Mr. Roosevelt's views.
"The President feels that there is no reason to change
the present government of Morocco and has no intention of
forcing other changes on any people."
A rapid check of Department of State files turned up no ad-
ditional information with respect to discussions of this subject
at Casablanca.
7-15-55
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FOR THE PRESS B DIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 23, 1942
The President has sent the following message to His Majesty,
Sidi Mohammed, Sultan of Morocco:
Your Majesty:
I have been highly pleased to learn of the admirable
spirit of cooperation that is animating you and your people in
their relationships with the French Administration and with the
forces of my country. This is particularly pleasing to me because
our traditional friendship dates from the time of George WWashington,
the first President of the United States of America, to whom your
noble predecessor gave, as a mark of personal affection, the build-
ing which houses the American Legation in Tangier. Today the Axis
powers are foes of both our countries. This foe seeks to impose
on North Africa a scheme of military and political domination.
His lust for booty has reached into every phase of Moroccan life.
I consider it fortunate that we are bound together in a common
effort toward his destruction.
Our victory over the Germans and Italians will, I know,
inaugurate a .period of peace and prosperity, during which the
Moroccan and French people of North Africa will flourish and
thrive in a manner which befits their glorious past and be pleasing
to God.
May God have Your Majesty in His safe and holy keeping.
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