Office of the Historian

772.00/5–552

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Public Affairs Adviser, Bureau of European Affairs (Kirkpatrick)

confidential
[Washington,] May 5, 1952.

Subject:

  • Tunisia

Participants:

  • Monsieur Daridan, Minister Counselor, French Embassy
  • Helen P. Kirkpatrick, EUR/P

At luncheon May 4, Monsieur Daridan raised the subject of Tunisia. While indicating that he personally is very critical of the French handling the question, he was nevertheless equally critical of the American position. He agreed that the pressure of public opinion here is such that the United States cannot indefinitely maintain its stand in the United Nations, but he felt that no real effort was being made to educate American opinion. He stated that rightly or wrongly French opinion would resist any attempts by the US or the UN to interfere in French North African affairs and that a worsening of the situation in Tunisia could easily lead to French withdrawal from Indochina and the use of force to suppress nationalist demonstrations anywhere in North Africa; that France would undoubtedly withdraw from the UN and from NATO rather than give up the North African territory. He expressed appreciation of the State Department’s understanding of the problem but spoke very bitterly against “other interests” who are encouraging the nationalists. I asked what he meant by “other interests” and what form the encouragement is taking. He mentioned the number of Tunisian nationalists coming to this country—El Fassi in particular—and said that obviously they are being subsidized. Pressed for the identity of those who are supposedly subsidizing these people, Daridan mentioned the Trade Unions. I said that undoubtedly the Trade Unions were showing an interest in North Africa Trade Unions, but felt that this would not justify his accusation. He then asked why I thought Carmel Offie was working for the A.F. of L. and insisted that “other interests” are using the trade unions to encourage Tunisian nationalists to bring them to this country. I assured him that the only interests behind the trade unions are the trade unions themselves and that Mr. Offie was no longer connected with the US government in any way.