751S.00/12–154: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State1
2301. Considerable speculation concerning purpose Juin–Mendes interview yesterday. Interest in call accentuated by fact that it occurred when political pressure on government both by majority and opposition parties on North African crisis is high and by recent reports that Juin advancing candidacy as commander of single military command for all North Africa (a Gaullist-supported proposal).
Interview was at Juin’s request and according l’Aurore that he pursued line that any clemency to Fellagahs should be considered with utmost prudence and must not, in any case, give appearance of weakness.
Reliable source privately circulated newsletter reports this morning that during interview Juin gave Mendes conditions under which he would undertake such command in North Africa. Claimed include complete political and military liberty of action for at least six months with provision that command answer directly to Prime Minister without clearing through interested ministeries.
Reported understandably enough that Mendes found these conditions unacceptable and that Gaullists have taken note of this fact for use in their démarche to Mendes today. They are expected press for acceptance of plan for single command for all North Africa but their position on Juin candidacy and conditions not yet clear.
Comment: We find it difficult to believe that Mendes under present circumstances would accept Juin’s proposal. These circumstances include reasonably hopeful prospect of settlement of Fellagah problem in Tunisia and French Government’s disposition to believe that Tunisian Government wants French-Tunisian negotiations brought to successful conclusion. Despite fact that Juin accompanied Mendes to Tunis on July 312 his appointment at this stage would doubtless be interpreted as signal that French believed that negotiations would collapse and that advocates of “hard policy” in North Africa had obtained upper hand. On other hand under Gaullist pressures Mendes may, to survive, ultimately find himself forced to accept some such proposal if Fellagah activity is not substantially reduced or if present negotiations end in failure.