414. Editorial Note
President Eisenhower announced on November 4 that he intended to leave Washington December 4 for a trip to Italy, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, Greece, France, and Morocco. Following discussions in Washington and Tunis, the White House on November 11 added Tunisia to the President’s itinerary. Documentation on these discussions is in Department of State, Central Files, 711.11–EI/11–559.
Eisenhower left Washington on December 3. Immediately prior to his departure, he delivered a radio and television address outlining the purposes and goals of his journey. Excerpts of this statement are printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1959, pages 36–39. On December 17, the President arrived at President Bourguiba’s Palace at La Marsa at 8 a.m. Accompanied only by Eisenhower’s interpreter, Lieutenant Colonel Walters, the two Presidents began a private breakfast at 8:15 a.m.; a record of their conversation is infra. Meanwhile, Under Secretary Murphy and other members of Eisenhower’s party discussed the Tunisian economy, U.S. aid to underdeveloped countries, and a joint communiqué about the President’s visit with members of the Tunisian Government. Murphy reported to Secretary Herter that he had used this opportunity to encourage Tunisia to create a “favorable climate for private investment” and that the [Page 879] subject of Algeria had arisen. (Murto 25, December 17; Department of State, Central Files, 811.05172/12–1759) A memorandum of this conversation is in Washington National Records Center, RG 59, Conference Files: FRC 83–0068, CF 1543.
At 10:30 a.m., Eisenhower, Bourguiba, and their parties left the Palace to drive to El Aouina Airport. A copy of the White House press release containing the texts of Eisenhower’s departure statement and Bourguiba’s response is ibid. At 1 p.m., the Department of State released a joint communiqué on the President’s visit; for text, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1959, page 1108.
Eisenhower informed Congressional leaders on January 11, 1960, that he had been “impressed” with Bourguiba. (Memorandum of conference with the President, February 3; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries) Documentation on the preparations for Eisenhower’s stop in Tunis and further reaction to it is in Department of State, Central File 711.11–EI, and Washington National Records Center, RG 59, Conference Files: FRC 83–0068, CF 1521–1545.