Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Africa and South Asia, Volume XI, Part 1

772.00/12–952: Telegram

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

confidential

Tunis, December 9, 1952—1 p.m.

200. We venture fol comments re Hached assassination.

1. There are three reasonable theories re killers: (a) French extremists of red-hand variety; (b) Communists; and (c) other Tuns.

2. Great mass Tun population accepts theory (a) and this acceptance will henceforward be polit factor. Difficulty with this theory is that killing hurts rather than helps French. Thus killers must have been both anti-Hached and anti-French Govt policy here. Such views exist fairly widely among French reactionaries but expert and coordinated manner in which killing conducted implies surprising degree organization and irresponsible will to direct action.

3. From point of view of “who gains most” theory (b) (Communists) is most likely. By Hached rubout sworn anti-Commie was liquidated at time and in manner best calculated sow dissension between Fr and Tuns, and between Arab-Asians and NATO powers. If Commies responsible new life must recently have been injected into local Commie organ which Fr have assured us was closely watched and moribund. It is possible that bombing of Arabs in recent weeks in manner cast suspicions on Fr auths and show up ineffectiveness security measures may have Commie direction. If so, efficiency of efforts indicates Fr (or at least Western) Commie direction. We doubt locals wld be up to it.

4. Re theory (c) (other Tuns) it is probable that Palace has been center of Byzantine manoeuverings of personalities among whom only Hached and Chedly appeared have capacity to inject or order. Proletarian Hached was unusual figure at Palace where his brains and ability likely made him enemies. Bey reported have “feared” him. Other sources of Tun enemies might be USTT (Commie union), rich pro-Fr Tuns (land-owners and employers) and rivals inside UGTT and Neo Destour. It is conceivable that such personal enemies might have sought to destroy rival and hurt France simultaneously. Best support for this theory is alleged evidence truck driver who offered Hached lift. He states that as Hached about to get into his truck another car came along whose occupants Hached recognized as acquaintances who cld get him to hospital faster.²

5. We think facts now do not warrant drawing conclusions.

6. Death of Hached, curfew and arrests following it³ have worsened prospects for early Franco-Tun settlement. Tun confidence Fr honesty and goodwill toward Tunisian autonomy now at rock bottom and legend spreading that understandable action Fr in burying Hached quickly and far away only part deliberate hushup tactics auths. Arrest 11 Neo-Destour-UGTT leaders strips these organs virtually to point impotence and as New York Times Correspondent remarked today “Tun nationalism is not sufficiently profound to automatically produce replacement leaders”. Fact remains that until memories fade somewhat Fr will have take into account passively distrustful Tun public disinclined believe anything they say. Thus it wld have to be seen whether any deal made now with Bey wld gain popular acceptance. We doubt it.

7. We think murder has made it clear that departure Hauteclocque and Garbay and their replacement by new team (preferably with sufficient stature to flatter Tuns) is prequisite for progress. Present incumbents now too identified with repressive measures of present and past to give Tuns room to hope for new deal. Only such hope likely move Tuns from sullen intransigence.

Jones

1. This telegram was repeated to Paris, Cairo, London, Algiers, Naples, and Rabat.
2. Telegrams 194 from Tunis, Dec. 6, and 3353 from Paris, Dec. 8, reported the following account of Hached’s death. He had been driving alone in his car when he was overtaken by another car, whose occupants fired a machine gun at him. That car left and Hached, who had been wounded in the wrist, flagged down a truck. According to the testimony of the French truck driver, a second car then arrived on the scene. Hached told the truck driver he knew the occupants, who appeared to the driver to be Tunisians, and would have them take him to the hospital. Hached’s body was later found by the side of a road, and an autopsy showed wounds in the kidney and wrist from a burst of fire from the first car and fatal wounds in the heart and head from another weapon. Documentation is in Department of State file 772.00.
3. Telegram 191 from Tunis, Dec. 6, reported that the heads of UGTT and Neo-Destour had met on Dec. 5, to jointly reelect new UGTT leadership. Since that meeting was considered contrary to martial law, security authorities were arresting the persons considered responsible for the meeting. (772.00/12–652)