GUESTS ARRIVING: FRENCH PRIME MINISTER ARRIVING: KING HASSAN ARRIVING AND ENTERING: KING HASSAN SPEAKING TO NEWSMEN.




Initials RJ/V/VH/PS



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Background: THE MOROCCAN LEADER, KING HASSAN, AT PRESENT ON A PRIVATE VISIT TO FRANCE, WAS ENTERTAINED AT A DINNER LAST NIGHT (MONDAY) BY THE FRENCH PRESIDENT GEORGES POMPIDOU. THE DINNER WAS HELD AT ELYSEE PALACE.

THE DINNER WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS SINCE KING HASSANS ARRIVAL IN FRANCE. THE TWO MEN WILL MEET AGAIN TOMORROW WHEN THE DISCUSSIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE MORE SERIOUS THAN THE DINNER TABLE TALK.

DURING HIS VISIT THE KING PAID A COURTESY CALL ON PRESIDENT BOURGUIBA OF TUNISIA WHO HAS BEEN RECEIVING TREATMENT IN A PARIS NURSING HOME FOR TWO MONTHS.

KING HASSAN'S VISIT COMES SOON AFTER THE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN FRANCE AND MOROCCO. THE TWO COUNTRIES BROKE DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS FOUR YEARS AGO FOLLOWING THE BEN BARKA INCIDENT AND THE SENTENCING BY A FRENCH COURT OF GENERAL OUFKIR, THE MOROCCAN MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, FOR COMPLICITY IN THE KIDNAPPING OF THE MOROCCAN LEADER. FRANCE AND MOROCCO EXCHANGED AMBASSADORS EARLIER THIS YEAR.