Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Africa, Volume XVIII

245. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France¹

Washington, November 19, 1956—11:31 a.m.

1891. 1. Ambassador Slim November 8 informally gave Murphy note requesting in general terms US economic and technical aid.² Slim said he did not wish embarrass US or Tunisian Government by inviting refusal we might feel obliged make because of preoccupation present US relations with France. Therefore he preferred not hand in note formally unless we indicated in principle we would entertain request. He was given general indication US considers such requests on own merits but we were anxious avoid impression we could assume heavy share responsibility and thereby cause GOT burn its own bridges. Department promised Slim more definite reply and is therefore informing Tunisian Embassy today as follows:

A. US prepared in principle extend economic and technical assistance, with extent and type programs to be determined by on-spot studies and conversations between two governments, and ICA prepared send survey team.

B. GOT should understand that as matter principle and owing statutory and budgetary limitations based on world-wide commitments, US policy encourages other Western nations and international agencies share aid responsibilities. (FYI. Only $5 million tentatively earmarked from funds FY 1957. While Department will explore possibilities finding other funds and take Tunisian needs into account in making 1958 estimates, we cannot make definite commitment at this time. End FYI.) US could not hope undertake at this time anything on order 16 billion francs which has been under discussion Tunisians and French. Tunisians should therefore conclude such economic and financial arrangements with French as they feel they can since such assistance will probably be necessary for some time. We also encouraging French expedite such arrangement.

C. GOT should also realize development concrete program will require time.

2. Embassy Tunis should follow similar line in discussion with FonOff.

3. Upon receipt this telegram and related telegram re Morocco³ Embassy Paris should inform French of Tunisian request and nature foregoing reply, making clear we are acting on Tunisian request and that our decisions will be facilitated by rapid conclusion Franco-Tunisian arrangements which we desire coordinate our own.⁴ (FYI We informed French Emb Wash of Tunisian request permitting them to read Tunisian memorandum).

FYI. Believe such consultation necessary despite Tunisian sensitivity and that once we have responded positively to Tunisians and made clear our limitations both to them and French, we will be in better position get both parties take more favorable view re conclusion economic and financial arrangements with each other. Moreover by informing Tunisians our intention tell French we acting positively on Tunisian request, we would hope allay Tunisian suspicion our approaches constitute “clearance” with French and minimize effective French exploitation these suspicions.

4. Above is entirely in keeping current NSC directives⁵ and previously explained French Government position (Paris 366, July 20) US cannot remain deaf to Tunisian request and we feel that above makes clear we not planning supplant French aid as feared by Maurice Faure (Paris 2335).⁶ Precise level aid would be determined during negotiations in light availability funds, information re economic conditions Tunisia, and progress Franco-Tunisian arrangements, since it is obvious Tunisians must continue depend on French for major part assistance. End FYI.

5. Will send further instructions when Tunisian request formalized.

Hoover

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 772.5–MSP/11–1956. Secret. Also sent to Tunis; repeated by pouch to Rabat.
2. Tunisian Ambassador Slim stated Tunisia’s desire to avoid a repetition of the Egyptian experience where a U.S. offer of aid had recently been withdrawn. Murphy explained that the situations were not the same. (Memorandum of conversation by Bovey, November 8; ibid., 651.72/11–856)
3. Document 202.
4. Dillon reported on his November 21 conversation with Maurice Faure on the subject of U.S. economic assistance to Morocco and Tunisia. Faure was gratified that U.S. aid would be supplementing rather than replacing French economic assistance. (Telegram 2541 from Paris, November 22; Department of State, Central Files, 771.5–MSP/11–2256)
5. Reference is to NSC 5614/1, October 3, 1956. For text, see Document 36.
6. In telegram 2335, Dillon summarized his conversation with Maurice Faure on November 10 which mainly dealt with U.S. economic assistance to Tunisia and Morocco. Faure preferred that the United States not proffer such assistance until France concluded arrangements with Morocco and Tunisia. Dillon agreed this would be preferable, but warned against delay. (Department of State, Central Files, 651.71/11–1056)