771.00/12–1452: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in France 1
3401. Supplementing Tangier Legtel 240, Dec. 14,2 35 to Paris, Balafredj has informed USUN official that he reed msg Sun from Sultan than remaining Istiqlal leaders have been rounded up and he himself is in imminent danger being deposed. Dept queried Con Rabat Sun this matter.3
Today USUN reports that Balafredj is broadcasting this news at UN and that Indo Rep mentioned it this morning in UN debate. La-Coste says story is nonsense but that he is not in position make official statement for Fr Govt. USUN also reports Balafredj addressing plea to Secy on this subj.
In light of foregoing, Secy may wish take occasion when mtg with Schuman to express informally opinion that recent Fr public disavowal of intention to depose Bey of Tunis is having quieting effect on North Af situation and that he presumes Fr Govt entertains similar intention toward Sultan of Morocco. Since we understand from USUN that tone Morocco debate more serious in criticism of Fr than Tunisian discussion,4 presumably Fr public statement denying rumor of plans to depose Sultan wld be even more useful. Since in absence of Fr from North Af debates in UN US has had to accept more active role in debate than we wld have desired, we feel justified approaching Fr this matter.
If Secy approves this suggestion, he may prefer have Emb approach FonOff in this vein.