851S.00/203
The Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Ailing) to the Consul at Tunis (Doolittle)
Dear Hooker: We have read with a good deal of interest a copy of your letter of February 25, 1942, to Colonel Eddy,9 and have noted your comments on the possibility of Arab cooperation in North Africa. There is one point, however, on which I think we should make ourselves clear before misunderstandings arise, and that is on the subject of a so-called “palace revolution.”
Let me say at once that the Department would consider any attempt to turn the Arab population against the French as dangerous in the highest degree. Our policy in French North Africa is directed to building up the confidence of the French authorities and the French population in general, and to induce them to support the democratic cause in one way or another. It is obvious of course that what counts in this connection is the friendly attitude of French military officials, and if anything were done to destroy such favorable sentiment as we may have aroused, our entire objective would be defeated.
While the feelings of the Arab population are of some concern to us, the French position is of much greater importance. If we were implicated in a political overturn such as you suggest, it might arouse such bitter resentment on the part of the French that we might presently find ourselves ejected from North Africa altogether.
We therefore feel that you should exercise the utmost caution in any contacts you may have with Arab elements who have anti-French views. While an Arab organization would undoubtedly be useful to us if it were principally concerned in opposing the Axis, the Department would look with strong disfavor on any move which would in effect sponsor any kind of a revolution against the present administration in Tunisia.
Sincerely yours,
- Not printed.↩