It was on 25 October that, thanks to concerted action by Guessous and Abdessadeq, a series of events took place which had unforeseen consequences.

That morning Guessous was received in Rabat by the Executive Committee of the Istiqlal. He told them of his plan to meet El Glaoui, that the way had been prepared by Abdessadeq, and that the aim was to induce El Glaoui to change his attitude towards the Council of the Throne and the Sultan. The Executive, initially both surprised and sceptical, finally authorised Guessous and two of their number to undertake the mission. Abdessadeq had been waiting outside in the hall, and, on being informed of the Executive's decision, immediately took the three nationalists to meet his father.

This took place on the very day when El Glaoui was expected in Rabat to recognise the Council of the Throne. Old and ill, the Pasha had left Marrakesh that morning and was by then at his palace in Casablanca, en route for Rabat. There he received the delegation.

After introductions by Abdessadeq, Guessous opened the dialogue by telling El Glaoui that he regretted all the bitterness he had harboured against him for many years. This honesty and humility touched the old man deeply, and he embraced Guessous. The onlookers found tears coming to their eyes.

The Pasha then asked his visitors to stay for lunch. It was during this meal that Guessous, supported by his colleagues and by Abdessadeq, presented their plan for national reconciliation, based on a reconciliation between El Glaoui himself and Sultan Sidi Mohammed Ben Youssef. They worked hard and managed to formulate, little by little, the five points on which a settlement could be based. El Glaoui then wanted to give his visitors a large sum of money in gratitude. They refused, saying that they were activated only by concern with what was best for all parties and for the country as a whole. At 3.15 in the afternoon El Glaoui left for Rabat.

In Rabat the Council of the Throne awaited him. Its president received him and asked him if he wished to make any declaration. Then in Maxwell's words, El Glaoui 'entered the throne room, and before the Council made the speech that set his whole life's work at naught: "I identify myself with the will of the Moroccan people for the restoration of the rightful Sultan Mohammed Ben Youssef and for his immediate return from Madagascar." The brief session closed with scenes of incredulous jubilation. [El Glaoui] and his retinue left the Palace to find a vast throng awaiting them outside, among them clamorous journalists of all nations. They pressed round him as he entered his car, saying, "Excellency, show us your declaration!" but the old man was now showing signs of acute fatigue and replied, "Address yourselves to my son Si Abdessadeq."'5This declaration became known as 'the Pasha's Bombshell'.

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