772.00/3–752: Telegram

The Chargé in France (Bishop) to the Department of State

secret priority

5399. For Secretary from Bruce, Deptel 5246, March 6,1 rptd Tunis 56. I assume reftel crossed Embtel 5280, March 42 re conversation between Maurice Schumann and Bonsal on Tunisian situation, or at least that our message was not fully considered prior to dispatch reftel.

I would like to point out there is now new Prime Minister who will present his cabinet to Parliament for approval on Tues. Robert Schuman should not be approached at this point and would have no authority to handle this situation. In my opinion, we should continue our expressions of interest to FonOff officials and also continue our working level discussions of various possibilities.

Tahar Ben Amar has now returned to Tunisia following his five conversations with Maurice Schumann. He is reported to have seen Bourguiba and we assume he has also seen other leaders, including Bey’s Ministers. Contact between parties therefore exists.

We cannot anticipate immediate French decision on program for resumption negotiations since timetable will depend largely on political developments here.

I would like to stress my conviction that French will react most unfavorably to attempt to use probable SC consideration of Tunisian matter as either club or lever to move French Govt. As we have frequently indicated, this problem is intimately related to whole French position in North Africa. French will not be moved by what they [Page 688] consider irresponsible demagogic activities of Arab-Asian bloc, nor do they consider developments over past few months in Iran and Egypt furnish any basis for condemnation of French approach to North African problems.

We believe that at present best we can do is to urge French to convey soonest appropriate instructions to French reps on SC re nature of statement which can be made when matter comes up and we can express hope such statement may be as “progressive” as possible. We will convey to FonOff two numbered points in concluding para reftel.

Bishop
  1. Supra.
  2. Not printed; it reported that the French Foreign Ministry considered the Tunisian problem one of great complexity, which had not been simplified by recent government crises and other major preoccupations. The Embassy was informed that the French realized it had been a mistake to raise the issue of the dismissal of Chenik and had abandoned that condition. (772.00/3–152)