LETTER TO YOUR MAJESTY: FROM FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R004100140004-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2002
• Sequence Number: 4
• Content Type: LETTER

1,?~t W,Ls dih v e red ~ No de Nt bc'r
Approved For Release 2002/09/04: CIA-RDP80B01676R004~1 Q~~40004-0
CGPI~I:NEA.:AF: PRC
CGb1:Y~t~:t'kiC: ~c.
Your Majesty:
The avowed intentions of the Axis powers tc aominate Your
Majesty's Empire are a secret to no one. They, I know, are the
scurce of the ~?ravest preoccupation or. the part of your Government.
During the months that have elapsed since the tragic events
of 1910 your country and people have been called upon. to pay a
staggering burden of tribute exacted by the brutal powers of
aggression profiting b~T their initial victory. The German and
Italian lust for booty has reached into every phase cf Moroccan
life, paralY7~ing its activity, ruining its merchants and farmers
and depriving its brave population of the barest r.ecessitities
of life,
The Axis aggressors seek tc impose on North i~frica a scheme
of permanent political and military domination. The disadvantages
of that program as compared with the ideals and freedoms ar_d
economic benefits set forth in the Atlantic Charter i_s obvious to
you and the Moroccan population.
The evil aggressor is not satisfied with the organized
looting of your country which has been conducted under the cloak
of requisition and purchase with French money exacted as tribute.
That money cannot purchase for your people, in return for their wheat,
barley, wool, and minerals even articles cf't he barest necessity.
The Axis pcwers now ulcer. to crush your ranpire by military force
and violence.
Cur cernmon 9_nterest buttressed as it is by ~ long tradition
of friendship dating from the time of Gecrge t~lashingtor., the first
President of the United atates of xmerica, to whom your noble
predecessor gave as a mark of personal affection the building
which houses the American Legation ir, Tangier, dictates our joint
action in the face of a common foe.
It is needless of me to assure Your I?ajesty that. the arrival
of American forces in your country in collaboration with forces of
the Protecting Power is merely a token of American intention to
assist in defending your sovereignty and in protectin.~ your country
and mine against a common enemy whose power will be destroyed. I
propose that this foe be driven from the shores of Africa, the
springboard from whence the moverient of liberation of oppressed
peoples will be launched.
Cur victory will, I know, inaugurate a period of" peace and
prosperity during which the Moroccan people will flourish and
thrive in a manner which benefits their gloricus past and be pleasing
to God,
I~iay God have Your I~tajesty in his safe and holy keeping.
your Tood friend,
Franklin :~. Roosevelt,
State Dept. review completed
Approved For Release 2002/09/04: CIA-RDP80B01676R004100140004-0
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 Approved For Release 2002/09/04 :CIA-RDP80B01676R004100140004-0
CG PIS : NEA:AF : ~~. C
CCT~._PARED : PH.C : ~~-
An ~~nglish translation of "Tench rendition o?' the letter of the
Sultan of Morocco, written to the President o#' the United States
.t'alace of r'is 14]ajesty the Sultan
Jecretariat
r.r~'LY OF HI5 7r'IJI~S'I'Y Ti?~ ;~ULTAIv TQ TNT;
P1t~IDEIVT OF' THE UTTIIT~~]) STATES
ire were happy to receive your letter and your telegraphic message
which came to us successively to express your friendship and to reinforce
the friendly relations which had exiGted for u long time between the
United States and ~Torecco.
i;ftor the ~rmist ice of rune, 1;~~.0, we made ar, ~reernent ~rr~_th the
representative of France in ~4orocco tc defend. our Emoire against any and
x.:11 a;gressors in order to prevent its occupation. rdher. the American
troops arrived in ~riorocce, honor forced upon us the duty of defending
ourselves in order that we might live up to our agreements. The limited
means at our disposal were insufficient to p?rmit us to defend our
Empire against forces superior both in numbers ancz in rna,terial.
13otivever, when the cessation of hostilities had been ordered and the
commanders of your troops affirmed that t'~iey did not come as conquerors
lout as liberators, when they had Liven us tangible proof of their
friendly method.a, we had faith in thou agreements. All of the inhabi-
tants of this country have r eceived t_iem as friends. F~.zrther?nore~
N~orocco has no disaureement with the great nation of the Lrn~.ted States,
whose chivalrous and liberal principles are known to us. It is there-
fore in the above spirit that we d ecl3red to ~.ajor General Patton that
as long as our prestige, cur soil, our religion and our t raditions were
respected by your troops, they: could rest assured that they found in
R4orocco only friends and collaborators.
The first contacts between peoples who ao not know each other well
enou~,,,ki are always marked by hesitation and r eticerce, but progressively
as reciprocal understanding is established b etween theme they are
followed by esteem and friendship which creates a cooperative effort
profitable to all.
:)uch has been the b'ranco-Mcrocean collaboration which has been so
rich in happy results for the prosX~erity and grande~.zr of iviorocco. v"r"e
are sure that the same will result from contact with the United States
of America, for whom we have always had the greatest sympathy and with
whom ~e have for many years had imp-octant commercial dealings.
It is in this hope ter. President, that we pray you to believe in
our sincere friendship.
G'rith b est wishes for your personal Kapp ~_ness and for the greatness
of your glorious country.
{signed) ~ioha~~~uned ben Yeussef
none at our Capitals Rabat
The 8th day of the ilonth o f' 1?hou ~1-f aad.a
In the Year 1361 (~ q ~ z ~
Approved For Release 2002/09/04 :CIA-RDP80B01676R004100140004-0