PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT ON THE FUTURE OF MOROCCO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000100400003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 12, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 28, 1952
• Content Type: BULL

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MORO( CAN NEWS BULLETIN
60 Sutton Place South
New York 22, N.Y.
Moroccan
Information
Office
50X1
1613 Harvard St., N.W.
Washington, D.C.
New York, Nov. 28, 1952
PRESIDENT FRZZLMIN D. ROOSEVELT ON THE FUTURE OF MOROCCO
"Why does Morocco,. inhabited by Noroccans, belong to France?
...Anything must be better, than to live under French colon-
ial rule. Should a land belong to France? By vhat logic and
by what custom and by what historical rule?"
"When we've won the war, I will work with all my might and
main to see to it that the United States is not wheedled
into the position of accepting any plan that will further
France's imperialistic ambitions
Fror:. AS HT7, S2.W IT, By Elliott Roosevelt
(Duelle, Sloan Pearce), 1946
CONTENTS
No, 5
Page
1. The Sultan's Speech from the Throne 1
2. New York Celebration of the Sultan's Silver Jubilee 1
3. The Jews in :orocco 2
a. The Status of the Jews in the Past 2
b. Letter from the Sultan to a Jewish Leader 3
c. Pro-Jewish Decree of 1864 4
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TM, SULTAN'S SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
The Sultan's Speech from the Throne was reported, though incorrectly,
In most New York papers. We are limiting ourselves therefore to recapitu-
lating its main points.
The Sultan gave a comprehensive survey of ;the events that have led
to the present Moroccan crisis, pointing out that all his efforts towards
achieving his country's legitimate aims by means of direct negotiations
with France, have failed. He showed how under the present protectorate
regime it was impossible for Morocco to advance and to develop a truly de-
mocratic way of life. The present regime, though' fitting in 1912, had
long since lost its value, and only in an independent Morocco, based on
a democratic constitutional monaDchy, could his country assume its right-
ful place among other nations.
He stated that in an independent Morocco all legitimate French rights
would be safeguarded, as would be those of all other foreigners. He stress-
ed the close links that, unite Morocco with the other Arab and Moslem coun-
tries, and prayed that the present efforts of those countries in the UN
Assembly (on behalf of Morocco) be crowned with success.
The Sultan's speech once again demonstrated clearly that there have
been no genuine negotiations between him and the French Government, but
only a sterile exchange of notes. It is only on account of the French Gov-
ernment's persist-ent refusal to negotiate with the Sultan that the Arab-
Asiatic bloc felt impelled to place the Moroccan issue before the UN As-
sembly,
NEW YORK CELEBRATION OF THE SULTAN'S SILVER JUBILEE
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Sultan's accession to the
throne, Mr. Balafrej, Secretary of the IstiO.al party, and the Moroccan
delegation to the UN Assembly held a reception at the Plaza Hotel in New
York. The heads of most of the other delegations to the UN were present,
among them ten Foreign Ministers and many Ambassadors.
The occasion was graced by the presence of Sir Zafrullah Khan, For-
eign Minister of Pakistan, who made the following speech:
"I feel that the choice of the person who should say a few words on
this auspicious occasion is perhaps not very appropriate. It it was in-
tended to choose somebody from outside Morocco but who had made an inten-
sive study of Moroccan affairs and the character of His Majesty Mohammed
V, nobody could have done it better than Mr. Rom Landau who is present
here. If it was intended that somebody be selected from among the dele-
gations of the United Nations, the most appropriate choice would have been
His Royal Highness Prince Saif-ul-Islam Abdullah and it would have been
most appropriate in this sense, also, that it would be fitting that one
prince should pay tribute to another. If it is important that somebody
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should have been selected for the facility and charm in the English lang-
uage: the selection should have been Professor Bokhari.
"But the honor has fallen upon me, perhaps, because this is such an
excellent cause that even the least capable for such a purpose would do.
"We are here to do honor to His Majesty on the 25th anniversary of
his accession to the throne of Morocco. Though I am not very intimate
with the affairs of Morocco or His Majesty, I know enough to know that he
represents a very unique place among rulers today. Apart from his other
personal qualities, he, along with His Highness. the Bey of Tunis, who
also deserves this tribute, has put himself in one sense at the head of
the movement for the complete restoration of the independence and sover-
eignty of his people; and that is somewhat unique.
"His Majesty, by the stand he has taken) by the efforts he has made,
has given perfect service to his people. He ascended the throne of Moroc-
co at the comparatively early age of 17, and here was every opportunity
for him to occupy himself with the kind of affairs and attractions that
attract young men at that age, but he has done his country and his people
the honor of ruling over them and preferring service to his people and to
his cause. Indeed, he set himself an example in his own person of how -
anybody who is put in any position of authority, ought to conduct himself.
His position has not been an easy one. The relations between France and
Morocco did not make it easy. And he has acted throughout with dignity,
with tact, with courtesy. He has been persistent in his effort to restore
Morocco to the full position of sovereignty and independence. And yet he
has neither done nor said anything to which anybody, including the French
authorities, could take offense: that wasn't easy to do.
"I was very much struck in Paris last year both by the substance of
his spirit and the form and expression of it. I was already an admirer
of his, but I became a devoted admirer after listening to him speak.
"I. shall not detain you very long. I pray that it may be His Majes-
ty's good fortune, and the good fortune of his people and country, and of
all those who are anxious that the world should progress that Morocco will
find itself occupying its due and equal position among sovereign states.
Thank you very much."
THE JEWS IN MOROCCO
The Status of the Jews in the Past
French propagandists, nonchalantly disregarding historical facts, and
anxious to discredit the Moroccan nation and its rulers, both of the past
and the present, claim that the Jewish population of Morocco has always
been treated badly by the Sultans, and that only since the introduction
of the French protectorate have the Moroccan Jews enjoyed any rights and
freedom. It hardly needs saying that this story is as untrue as are most
of the fairy tales that French propaganda disseminates on the subject of '
Morocco. But since French propaganda (especially wthhin the USA) has at
its disposal almost unlimited funds, employs an army of agents, and has
the power to influence foreign public opinion, many people really believe
that in the past the Moroccan Jews suffered from the sort of treatment to
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which their fellow-Jews used to be exposed in so many European countries.
What is the truth?
The Jews, in Morocco, who today number over 200 thousand, have lived
there for many centuries. They have always been treated, and have re-
garded themselves, as Yoroccans. In the fifteenth century, when the Jews
were expelled from Spain and when no European country would receive them,
Morocco alone offered them asylum. Since in Morocco Islamic law governed
all social relations, the Jewish community was placed under its own Rab-
binical Courts that have existed right until 1912. Ghettos were estab-
lished; but not as a punishment--as they were in European countries--but
to enable the Jews to lead their own individual life, and to follow their
own traditions and customs. In times of general poverty, most of the Jews
were poor. When Morocco prospered, many of the Moroccan Jews prospered.
At a time when in Europe no Jew could hold public office, Moroccan Jews
were Ministers in the Sultans' Governments.
When during the second World War the French Government in Vichy tried
to introduce the anti-Jewish NUrnberg Laws into Morocco, the present Sul-
tan opposed himself whole-heartedly, pointing out to the French authori-
ties that the Moroccan Jews were his subjects, and would not be victimized
by any discriminatory racial laws. The life and property of many thou-
sands of Jews were saved thanks to the Sultan's courage and to the support
he received from the entire Moslem community in Morocco. Nevertheless,
there were many instances when the Suites interference failed, and when
French administrators eagerly followed their Vichy masters, sequestering
Jewish enterprises, imposing heavy fines on their owners, and even send-
ing numbers of Jews to concentration camps.
Letter from the Sultan to a Jewish Leader
The following letter was written by order of the Sultan to L. Ren?
Cassin, one of the leaders of the Jewish community in France:
Palace of His Majesty the Sultan Rabat, May 18, 1949
Private Office
To the Honorable Attorney,
Mr. Ren?assin, Representative
of the French Republic on the
International Committee for Human
Rights
Distinguished Greetings,
Your letter of March 29, 1949, in which you are concerned with the
condition of the people of your faith, reached his Sherifian Majesty.
His Majesty was very touched by the way in which you emphasized the
policy carried out by his generous ancestors in favor of Moroccan Jews, a
policy which consists particularly of treating them on an equal basis with
the rest of their Moslem compatriots. His clear-cut attitude with regard
to them, his firm resolution to defend them during the last war - as you
noted in your letter - as well as his declarations reiterated to their
delegations on several occasions, are a confirmation of this policy, an
application of his principles and the carrying out of what he considers
as one of his duties as Chief of-State, without making any distinction
among the elements of his people.
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His Majesty has asked me to draw your attention to the fact that
within his Sherifian Kingdom, as far as the Moroccans are concerned, there
exists no legal provisions favoring one element to the detriment of anoth-
er. Moroccans of Jewish faith benefit particularly from legal protection
with regard to practising their religion and to the application of their
personal status.
As regards the public liberties which you desire granted to your Jew-
ish people, in keeping with the spirit of the principles adopted by the
Committee for Human Rights, His Majesty ardently desire that these liber-
ties should be made general and extended to all His subjects, without any
exception or discrimination.
The deplorable condition in which, according to your letter, a por-
tion of the Jewish element finds itself, is part of present-day difficul-
ties. They are not alone in that condition; it is also true for a good-
sized number of their Moslem compatriots. His Majesty spares no effort
in defending the rights of all the poor classes of his people, Moslems
as well as Jews, so that their standard of living may be raised and their
economic and social situation improved.
On this occasion, I am happy to tell you of the great interest with
which His Majesty follows the noble efforts which you are exerting to make ,
Human Rights triumphant and to guarantee their fulfillment. He prays that
Almighty God will inspire us with the thought of happiness for all.
Salutations.
Pro-Jewish Decree of 1864
On February 5, 1U64, the Sul-ten --ohairted Ben nbdallah published the
following decree:
"It is our order that all Jews residing in Our Empire, regardless
of the situation in which they were placed by the Al,Aghty, Should be
treated by our governors, administrators and other subjects, in confor-
mance with strictest justice, and that, before our legal courts, they
Should be on an equal basis with any other person, so that not even the
slightest injustice may be done them nor any unmerited treatment accord.
ed them. Neither the authorities nor any other person shall do any harm
to the Jews, either to their person or their proberty...Because such an
injustice is an injustice in the heavens and we cannot under any circum-
stances, prejudice their rights or those of any other person; Our dig-
nity is opposed with all its might to such'proceedings.- In Our eyes, all
men have an equal right to ask for justice..."
ISTILAL (r:DEPENDENCE) PARTY OF :.CROCCO, (Moroccan Office of Informatien
and Documentation). Dr. El Mehdi Ben-Aboud _(M.D.) representative of the
Independence Party of Lerocco in the United States of America, is so-re-
gistered at the Department of Justice, Washington, where copies of this
material are being filed and where his registration statement is available
for inspection. The fact of registration does not indicate approval or
disapproval by the United States Government of the contents of this pe-
tition.
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