772.00/2–2852: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Department of State1
554. Re: Tunisia. Bokhari (Pak) called on Gross and Hyde. He had come to put before us frankly the plans of the Asian-Arab group to bring Tunisian situation before SC in March. A majority of the group has already received its instrs to do so and Bokhari regards it as definitely decided that he will request SC meeting, probably next week.
In general, feeling of Paks and group is that Tunisian situation is likely to endanger international peace and it should be ventilated in SC without delay. The firmness or conciliatory character of presentation by Paks and others will depend on attitude of France in SC. Bokhari emphasized important political fact of 15, or perhaps 16, UN members sponsoring a simple request that SC consider Tunisian situation.
He reported that this group had considered meeting with US rep and requesting that we take lead in presenting this case. Bokhari feels it is in character with US role of favoring the development of self-government for colonial peoples to do so. He hopes we will not adopt the alternative of support for what he considers a series of French colonial blunders. He invited our leadership in presenting Tunisian situation and if not our leadership at least our cooperation. However, he pointed out that if we cannot cooperate with Asian-Arab group they will still proceed and present their case to SC.
Gross commented that he would report fully this conversation and that we had not instrs on general question and that on the substance the Dept must necessarily study all the facts. Gross promised to confer further with Bokhari as soon as we have further info from the Dept. Bokhari felt it premature until the general reaction of US to this proposed agenda item is known to commit himself on tactical and [Page 683] procedural matters. He felt these questions would in many instances be decided by the US attitude toward case as a whole.
His general theory of case is for 15 states jointly to request SC meeting characterizing subject as Tunisian situation involving a threat to the peace. Sponsors see in this case pattern of infringement of Bey’s sovereignty over a period of 70 years with resulting regime governing against will of people. It follows that any former colonial people, such as Paks, react against this. Also, situation is deteriorating with numbers of Tunisians being killed and vicious circle results with French refusing to negotiate until atmosphere is calm and their refusal results in disorders. With leaders in prison or refugees, case need general debate in SC.
Very bad impression is created by refusal of passports to Tunisian Ministers2 who possess first-hand info of use of Paks in preparing and presenting SC case. Bokhari felt SC is “police station” which, if UN has meaning, should be open day or night to receive complaints from all. He intends to seek a SC res requesting presence of these Ministers.
Bokhari will urge that all co-sponsors of complaint to SC who are not members be invited to sit at table on theory that this privilege has always been granted and number involved should not affect the privilege. In answer to question by Gross, he added that if US is favorably disposed to case in general, an accommodation could be reached on whether it is desirable to have fewer than 15 come to table.
Bokhari felt it would be great political mistake for France, and particularly for US to attempt in any way to hinder placing of case on agenda. He added complaint was so drafted in describing case as a situation to make it simple for all SC members to favor a general discussion. This general SC discussion is first primary objective of presenting case to SC. Bokhari understood that final relief to be attained from SC would have to be worked out in the light of the discussion. Once case is on agenda, however, he argued that all loyal SC members, and particularly US should come forward with suggestions on what a proper solution should be, and he again invited our collaboration.
[Page 684]We left it that Bokhari would make no formal move to call SC meeting until after reasonable time has elapsed to get Dept’s reaction and Gross agreed to be in touch with Bokhari early next week.
- This telegram was repeated to Paris, Karachi, and Tunis.↩
- On Feb. 12, an officer of the French Embassy called at the Department of State and asked the United States to refuse visas to two Tunisian Ministers visiting Paris who wanted to go to New York in connection with possible Security Council action on Tunisia. The Department replied that it would be impossible to refuse to issue the visas because the Tunisians had valid diplomatic passports. (Memorandum of conversation of Feb. 12; 772.13/2–1252) Telegram 4968 from Paris, Feb. 13, sent the translation of a note received from the Foreign Ministry that day. The note informed the Ambassador that the French Government had terminated the diplomatic passports of the Tunisians. The French intended to exchange the diplomatic passports for ordinary ones, valid for travel only in France and return to Tunisia. (872.181/2–1352) Paris telegram 4995, Feb. 14, reported the Embassy had informed the Tunisians that it could not issue U.S. visas since their diplomatic passports had been invalidated by the French Government. (872.181/2–1452)↩