772.00/3–2652: Telegram

The Consul General at Tunis (Jernegan) to the Department of State1

secret priority

127. Min deleg de Boisseson gave Consular Corps fol info this morning:

1.
ResGen ordered as of midnight last night temporary exile from Tunis to Kebili (in southern Tunisia) of all Tun Mins presently Tunisia. Transfer of all but Min of Agri has already been accomplished without incident and they are resident in small hotel. Agri Min took advantage of permission (which was also offered to others) remain his home for brief period arrange his affairs but will presumably soon join others. Period of exile of Mins will probably be short.
2.
This measure taken, on basis powers conferred by state of siege, in view Cabinet’s refusal resign at request ResGen and because it had completely lost confidence of Fr Govt. Reasons for loss of confidence were:
A.
Appeal to UN at moment of arrival of new ResGen indicated that Cabinet did not desire negotiate with France.
B.
Departure of two leading natlist Mins (Ben Youssef and Badra) and their prolonged stay in Paris left Cabinet unrep for negotiating purposes.
C.
Cabinet had failed take advantage of various opportunities offered by France to withdraw without loss of face from its negative position.
D.
Since last October Cabinet had virtually ceased to administer country, refused submit decrees for Bey’s signature and had not even prepared budget for fiscal year beginning April 1.
E.
Cabinet had not lifted finger to check wave of violence that has swept country in past two months. Since it claimed to be sole rep of Tun people, this constituted tacit approval of violence.
3.
No legal proceedings instituted as yet against Mins but such action might later be taken against certain ones.
4.
All police and security personnel have been delegated temporarily [Page 697] by ResGen to Gen Garbay, Comdr of troops in Tunisia. (Garbay, however, is subject to ResGen’s orders.) Curfew has been imposed effective tonight in all large towns from 9 to 5 a.m. Certain categories persons, including non-local members Consular Corps, are exempt. Control over telegraphic communications has been imposed but will be exercised in liberal spirit and will not apply official consular msgs. Tele and curfew restrictions will probably be lifted in few days. Telephone service Tunis was cut this morning but will be restored this afternoon. No restrictions envisaged on land, air or sea travel or on mail.
5.
ResGen expects that new Cabinet will be appointed shortly in normal fashion and will be composed of men who have confidence of both Bey and Fr Govt and who will devote themselves to their duties.

In subsequent private conversation with me, ResGen Hauteclocque confirmed that he has considered it impossible to deal with Chenik Cabinet, repeating previous statements that Chenik was merely stooge for Bourguiba who was irresponsible and wld never be satisfied. Said if he had not taken action remove Mins Fr colony wld have itself resorted to violence in self protection. Claimed natlists working with Commies and using Hitler tactics. Read me portion his instrs from Paris which declared Fr Govt cld not treat with Cabinet and left to ResGen full liberty of action to obtain Ministry composed persons having confidence both of Fr and Bey. He said he wld [had?] read these same passages to Bey yesterday.2

Said what he wanted was strictly admin Cabinet to run current affairs while reforms were discussed in mixed Franco-Tun Comm. Members of mixed comm cld be as natlist as they pleased and cld include present Mins.

Confirmed that he had refused communicate any portion of proposed reform program so long as Chenik in office. (He gave me oral outline of program, which will be reported separately.) Declared he does not expect serious outbreaks of violence although Tun attitude will undoubtedly “stiffen” for a few days.

I commented, speaking personally, that I liked his reform program but did not agree with procedures he had adopted. I feared result wld be to make Tuns more resistant than ever. I thought any new PriMin wld prove to be as much of a “tool” of Bourguiba as was Chenik. He replied I was entitled my opinion but he had the responsibility and believed he had taken only possible course. Thought he cld find reasonable man not under Bourguiba’s thumb.

Jernegan
  1. This telegram was repeated to Paris and Naples for Unger.
  2. Tunis telegram 133, Mar. 28, informed the Department of State an official from the Resident General’s office confirmed press reports that the French Government had given unqualified support to the Resident General. (772.00/3–2852)