Office of the Historian

388. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tunisia1

Washington, April 22, 1958—7:44 p.m.

864. Re Embtel 1403.2 Department believes private talk mentioned reftel will provide useful opportunity to put across to Bourguiba certain ideas we have with respect to Tunisian-French relations in particular and North Africa generally. Accordingly you may convey following comments to him as representing our current thinking after talks with Murphy:

1.
Tunisian-French Relations. This is period which calls for steady nerves and patience. The position in France is such that while there is reason to hope for a solution of the present crisis which will be beneficial to Tunisian-French relations, it is nevertheless so fragile a situation that a word or an incident could shatter it with consequences disastrous to our efforts to encourage the restoration of peace and stability in the area. We know that Bourguiba is personally sensitive to this danger and that his people are responsive to his desire to avoid incidents. We hope that his influence can be extended to the FLN in this respect also.
2.
Algeria. Bourguiba may rest assured that the United States remains preoccupied with the need for an early end to hostilities there and, as Mr. Murphy intimated, will do what it can to encourage that objective. We have ever before us the devastating effect of the conflict on Algeria itself and the great dangers it presents for future North African stability and cooperation with the West, including France. Our examination of various courses of action continues and while the effect of our thinking and our efforts is not always publicly apparent, he and others interested may be assured that our interest will be maintained until a practical solution is found. We believe that increasing and critical self-examination is taking place in France on this question and we believe our own attitudes and postures are contributing to this healthy development. There will continue to be a premium on patience, imagination and moderation if this trend is to be encouraged.
3.
Libya. Despite Tunisian preoccupation with Algeria for understandable reasons, we hope Bourguiba will find time to strengthen his already good relations with the King and Government of Libya. It is essential in our view that Libya be oriented toward the Maghreb, and Bourguiba is in a good position to help encourage this. Such Libyan [Page 844] orientation will however require active efforts in view of the existence of other influences which tend to draw Libya toward the East rather than the West. We have high hopes that Bourguiba’s contribution in this field will be an important one.3

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 651.72/4–2158. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Porter, cleared by Torbert and Palmer, and approved and signed for Herter by Murphy. Repeated to Paris.↩
  2. Telegram 1403, April 21, reported that Ambassador Jones was scheduled to see Bourguiba privately on either April 23 or 24. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Telegram 4888 from Paris, April 23, suggested some points Ambassador Jones might consider before he spoke with Bourguiba. (Ibid., 651.72/4–2358)↩