290. Letter From Prime Minister Debré to the Ambassador in France (Houghton)1
My Dear Ambassador: We have, since you have been at Paris, developed the habit of speaking to each other so frankly that I desire to do it again today to discuss with you American policy towards North Africa.
[Page 653]For our alliance, one of the most solid foundations of world stability, does not seem to extend, I must say, to North Africa.
We are fighting there, in the common interest of the free nations, a rebellion, the representatives of which enjoy in the United States—and most particularly at New York and at Washington—a great liberty of action; these men, provided with false passports and certain of whom have been convicted in the courts, can with impunity make propaganda and carry on against us an incessant action; was not the rebel flag allowed to float a few days ago at Carnegie Hall?
In Morocco I do not have the feeling that our action—whether it is a question of military bases or of furnishing of arms—is well coordinated.
In Tunisia, the rebel chiefs who have taken refuge there find an attentive audience for their propaganda in the officials who represent your country.
Will not all this soon separate us one from the other? But it is we who represent in North Africa the only chance of stability, of prosperity and of peace; it is we alone who can prevent this zone vital for the defense of the Western World from falling into anarchy and inevitably passing into the hands of the enemies of liberty. We are at the same time protecting their vital interests, doing it with all necessary energy.
You know well moreover that our ideals correspond to yours—did they not originally inspire them?—and that my government, like General De Gaulle, has the will to practice a policy of liberalism and of evolution, which alone is capable of reconciling harmoniously in Algeria the requirements of the two communities: The task cannot be accomplished in a few days.
But I must say to you, the seduction of young nationalisms, which often only disguises the mystical totalitarian appetites of a few leaders, must not be allowed to lead American policy to play with fire and to abandon its oldest and most faithful allies for the sake of movements—of which there have been many examples in the recent past—which only prepare the ground for international communism and which, thanks to a perpetual outbidding, obtain from the West the very arms with which they fight it.
In the underdeveloped world, we are facing a struggle with Marxism which will be decisive for our future; we must approach this battle united, knowing that together we hold the patrimony of liberty.
We are, for our part, profoundly convinced—and I speak for our entire public opinion—that we are defending this patrimony in North Africa, and we find it inconceivable not to be supported. Indulgence [Page 654] towards the rebellion is presently its best trump, and I confess that I do not understand this indulgence; it is moreover understood by none of your friends in France.
It is normal that you should tell us frankly what you think; but you should not, under such or such influence, by opposite policies create a gap between us which will later, to our common detriment, be difficult to bridge.
I have too great a desire to reinforce the bonds which united us, I have too great a certainty that only our union can ensure coexistence by the equilibrium of forces, not to hesitate, as I have done, to express my feelings in all frankness; is not frankness the irrefutable proof of true friendship?
This is the letter, my dear Ambassador, which I promised you a few days ago and which frankly sets forth certain opinions which I hold deeply, and believe, I beg you, in my cordially devoted feelings.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751.13/4–2959. Confidential. The text, a translation of the letter which was written in French, was transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 3993 from Paris, April 29. Telegram 3993 noted that the Embassy had received the letter on April 29 and that its final paragraph was handwritten.↩
- Printed from an unsigned copy. Herter mentioned Debré’s letter when he met with Eisenhower on May 2 to report on the Foreign Ministers meeting held in Paris April 29–30. The memorandum of this conversation is scheduled for publication in volumes VII. A copy of the memorandum of conversation is in Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. The President was informed on May 20 that Houghton had been instructed to respond orally to the letter, stating that the United States felt it had supported France. (Item from State Summary reported to the President; ibid.)↩