Keesing's Record of World Events (formerly Keesing's Contemporary Archives),
Volume 6, September, 1960 France, Morocco, French, Page 17654
© 1931-2006 Keesing's Worldwide, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Agreement on Evacuation of French Bases.
An agreement between the French and Moroccan Government was signed in Rabat on
Sept. 1 providing for the evacuation of all French military, naval, and air forces from
Morocco by March 2, 1961, with the exception of the Air Force training schools which
would be evacuated in stages up to the end of 1968. The agreement was announced in the
following joint communique:
“The French Government and the Moroccan Government have during recent months, in
the spirit of friendship and co-operation which marks the relations between the two
countries, carried out exchanges of views concerning the French military forces and
installations in Morocco. These forces and installations throughout the Kingdom of
Morocco will be evacuated before March 2, 1961. The Air Force training schools will be
taken over according to the following timetable: Khourigba and Fez–May 31, 1961;
Agadir–end of 1962; Meknes, Marrakesh, and Kenitra [formerly Port-Lyautey]— of
1963.”
Further details of the agreement were published on Sept. 3 in the form of letters
exchanged between Crown Prince Moulay Hassan(Vice-Premier and Defence Minister in
King Mohamed's Government) and M. Couve de Murville (the French Foreign Minister).
The principal points were as follows:
(1) The Air Force training schools, not being operational in character, would not be used
as bases for military operations, as munitions depots, or as bases for regrouping.
(2) Technical installations located outside the schools but necessary for their working
would cease to have any military character; the evacuation centre for equipment as well
as the personnel required for the evacuation and for the movement of pupils would be
retained.
(3) The Moroccan Government would be kept informed of the strength of the personnel
and the work of the schools and ancillary installations. The schools would be available
for the training of Moroccan airmen trader arrangements to be made at a later date.
(4)The possible ultimate transfer to Morocco of the equipment of the schools would be
the subject of later agreements.
(5) The military and naval establishments would be evacuated by the following dates:
immediate– Rabat City, Mediouna base, and Camp Duval; November 1960–town of
Kenitra (Port-Lyautey) with all military installations; March 2, 1961– Rabat (remaining
military installations), Rabat-Sale base with all military installations, Casablanca with all
military and naval installations except equipment and personnel evacuation centre.
It was estimated that the present strength of the French forces in the country was 18,500
men (compared with 90,000 when Morocco became independent in 1956), all serving at
the Air Force and naval air base-schools; of the total, 11,500 were Air Force, 4,500
Army, and 2,500 Naval personnel. During the period since independence, nearly 250
officers and N.C.O.s of the Moroccan Air Force had been trained at the schools, and
some 4,400 men of the Moroccan Army and gendarmerie hail also passed through
training courses at the bases.
The Moroccan Information Minister (M. Moulay Ahmed Alaoui) emphasized on Sept. 3
that it was “in full sovereignty” that Morocco had agreed to the temporary retention of
the training schools by France. On the position of the Spanish troops still in Morocco, M.
Alaoui expressed the hope that “the relations of good-neighbourliness, friendship, and
colead operation which exist between Morocco and Spain will also the latter to evacuate
all her forces,” adding that King Mohammed would now turn his attention to this matter.
(Le Monde, Paris)(Prev. rep. 16978 A; Evacuation of U.S. Bases, 17324 B.)
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