283. Editorial Note
During an October 17 conversation with Secretary Dulles, Ambassador Alphand stated that the French Government hoped the United States would deny visas and access to U.S. facilities to FLN members who wished to enter the United States to carry out propaganda. The British, Italian, and German Governments, he observed, had restricted FLN activities in their countries, while the United Nations had not permitted FLN delegates to sit with the other delegations.
Dulles replied that the United States would cooperate as far as possible, but noted that U.S. laws in this area were “quite liberal.” [4 lines of text not declassified] (Memorandum of conversation; Department of State, Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 64 D 199)
On October 21, the Department of State informed missions in Europe, North Africa, and at the United Nations that Algerian nationalists not “otherwise excludable” from the United States would be granted visas on a case-by-case basis. Posts were to submit all such [Page 644] cases to the Department. (Telegram 1434 to Paris; ibid., Central Files, 751S.00/10–2158) Alphand expressed his disappointment at this decision to Assistant Secretary Elbrick on October 22 (memorandum of conversation; ibid., 751S.00/10–2258) and to Dulles on October 25. During the latter conversation, Alphand asked Dulles if the U.S. Government could prevent FLN political activity in the United States. Dulles “[31/2 lines of source text not declassified] said he did not know off-hand of any possibilities in this field, and concluded that he would have the matter studied and let the French know should there be any measures which we could take.” (Memorandum of conversation; ibid., 751S.00/10–2558)
Dulles informed Alphand on October 31 that the United States “would do all we can to discourage [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] activities. It was difficult to do anything because of [the] existence of freedom of speech here to conduct even attacks against the U.S. Government. [8 lines of source text not declassified]” (Memorandum of conversation; ibid., 751S.0111/10–3158)