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

355. Memorandum of Discussion at the 407th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, May 21, 1959¹

Washington, May 21, 1959

[Here follow a paragraph listing the participants at the meeting and items 1–4.]

4. Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria (NSC 5614/1; OCB Report, dated April 22, 1959, on NSC 5614/1)²

When Mr. Harr had finished his analysis of the OCB Report on the North African countries, particularly with respect to Moroccan bases, Mr. Gray turned to Secretary Dillon and inquired about the situation with respect to the U.S. proposal to relinquish the Boulhaut Airfield to the Moroccans. Mr. Gray said he realized that we had informed the French of our intentions but wondered what would happen if the French were adamant in their opposition to the transfer. Would we, inquired Mr. Gray, go ahead and make the transfer anyhow?

In reply Secretary Dillon said actually two U.S. bases in Morocco were involved. In addition to Boulhaut Airfield we also propose to give up our air control center at Rabat and transfer the facilities there to our base at Sidi-Slimane. Such a move, thought Secretary Dillon, would save the U.S. Government a million dollars a year.

On Monday last we had indicated our intentions to make these changes to the French. Thus far we had had no answer from the French. The matter was extremely serious and in fact we did not know precisely what we would do if the French were adamant in opposing these concessions to the Moroccans. If necessary, we would recall Ambassador Yost from Morocco for consultations. Secretary Dillon thought it essential for us to bear in mind that while the U.S. owned the installations at the two bases which it was proposed to turn over to the Moroccans, the French still hold title to the land on which the bases were built. The French had bought and paid for this land back in 1950. Accordingly, there would remain a problem between the French and the Moroccans even if the U.S. got out of these two bases.

The President inquired whether Secretary Dillon meant that the French had sovereignty over these two bases. Secretary Dillon replied that the French did not possess sovereignty but they held title and ownership of the land on which the installations were built.

Secretary Dillon said that he had one more point to add to Mr. Harr’s comments. The French, he said, had been conducting in Algeria over the last six or eight months much more aggressive and effective military action against the Algerian rebels. There had been some pretty rugged fighting. It was quite possible that there would be further trouble between France and Tunisia as the Algerian rebels took refuge on Tunisian soil in the face of French military pressure. Meanwhile, we informed Prime Minister Bourguiba yesterday that we had extended some 2.25 million dollars worth of aid assistance in the way of small arms, vehicles, etc.³

The President said that Tunisia seemed to him to be one place where one might expect the French to provide the necessary arms. Secretary Dillon replied that the French had at least said they had no objection to our supplying these arms to the Tunisians.

Mr. Gray informed the National Security Council that both the policy papers on France⁴ and on Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria would be reviewed by the NSC Planning Board in accordance with the recommendation of the OCB.

The National Security Council:⁵

a. Noted and discussed the reference Report on the subject by the Operations Coordinating Board.

b. Noted that the NSC Planning Board would review U.S. policy on Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria (NSC 5614/1).

[Here follow items 5–7.]

S. Everett Gleason

1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Drafted by Gleason.
2. NSC 5614/1, “Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria,” October 3, 1956, is printed in Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, vol. XVIII, pp. 138–144. The OCB report is in Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 61 D 385.
3. See Document 405.
4. NSC 5721/1, “U.S. Policy on France,” October 19, 1957, is in Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 61 D 385, France.
5. Paragraphs a and b constitute NSC Action No. 2088. (Ibid., S/S–NSC (Miscellaneous) Files: Lot 66 D 95, Records of Action by the National Security Council)