Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Arab-Israeli Dispute; United Arab Republic; North Africa, Volume XIII

310. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Ethiopia¹

Washington, June 16, 1960—8:25 p.m.

1001. We have read carefully General De Gaulle’s speech² and especially section on Algeria. To us it appears a firm re-affirmation of his September declaration with its emphasis on self-determination as means by which solution to Algerian impasse may be found. Speech additionally appears more conciliatory and takes more open attitude towards leaders of rebellion. In essence, we believe re-affirmation self-determination worthy our continued support as stated publicly by President last September.

We have noted that PGAR and other rebel organizations thus far have remained silent, indicating they giving study to declaration. PGAR also currently being represented at Addis meeting.³

At your discretion you may indicate to delegates at meeting our general support for De Gaulle declaration. You may also suggest that it our view wisest course for PGAR would be to seize opportunity offered by De Gaulle and send delegation quickly to Paris. Any influence which other African delegations might be able to exert on PGAR representatives would be helpful. Do not favor your having direct contact with PGAR representatives in Addis Ababa unless unavoidable.

We are counting on your discretion in this matter. You should not, of course, give any implication that US willing step in as mediator.

Rabat, Tunis, Cairo, and Tripoli: You authorized in contact with officials govt to which accredited and with such contacts as available with PGAR, FLN, or other organization to make known US position set forth above and hope that PGAR will respond positively to De Gaulle statement.⁴

Dillon

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 770.00/6–1660. Confidential; Niact. Drafted by L. Dean Brown on June 15; cleared by Satterthwaite, Kohler, McElhiney, McBride, and Porter; and approved and signed by Dillon. Repeated to Paris, Tunis, Cairo, Rabat, Tripoli, and Algiers.
2. For text of De Gaulle’s June 14 address on French and Algerian realities, see Major Addresses, Statements and Press Conferences of General Charles de Gaulle, May 19, 1958–January 31, 1964, pp. 79–83.
3. Reference is to the third conference of independent African States, held at Addis Ababa, June 14–24.

4. Abbas announced June 20 that the Provisional Algerian Government had accepted De Gaulle’s offer and would send a delegation to France. FLN emissaries met with French officials at Melun, June 25–29, to arrange the details of the delegation’s journey. On June 29, the French Government announced that it had offered its conditions for the talks. The FLN representatives returned to Tunis on July 1; 4 days later, the Provisional Algerian Government announced it could not accept the French conditions.

   On August 22, the Provisional Algerian Government released a statement suggesting that the Algerian question be settled in a referendum organized and supervised by the United Nations, De Gaulle responded on September 5 that Algeria was an internal French problem over which the United Nations had no jurisdiction. For texts of these statements, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, p. 516. Documentation on the U.S. reaction to these events is in Department of State, Central File 751S.00.