772.00/1–753: Telegram
The Consul General at Tunis (Jones) to the Department of State1
confidential
Tunis, January 7, 1953—10
a.m.
225. Following from Grellet January 6 regarding current political situation: [Page 855]
- 1.
- Resident General anxious comply promptly with UN resolution regarding bilateral negotiations on reform program, but political lull likely until new government takes over in Paris.
- 2.
- Residency technicians working out administrative plans for forthcoming municipal and caidal elections to replace hitherto appointed councils. Certain enabling legislation necessary including decree prescribing system for drawing up electoral lists, etc. Residency hopeful Bey’s present cooperative mood will continue and he will not delay sealing this. Total of 64 municipalities will vote for first time, and, if all goes well (and security situation remains calm), machinery should be ready for elections to be held in smaller communities by mid-March. Large towns present more complicated problems so doubtful if municipal elections in Sousse, Sfax and Bizerte can be held until May. Caidal council machinery easier to organize because of more homogeneous electorate.
- 3.
- Neo-Destour, badly disorganized and confused, is apparently split on policy toward elections. One faction advocates boycotting them completely because December 20 reform decrees were sealed by Bey under “duress”. Other group favors entering candidates and making as strong show as possible. Latter argue that since Chenik Government, in which Neo-Destour represented, agreed to municipal elections boycotting them now would be bad politics.
- 4.
- Tunis City presents special case. Having had elected municipal council since 1945 it is outside purview of new reform. However, question still undecided whether new council will be elected by second-degree suffrage, as formerly, or by direct suffrage as provided by reform decree for other municipalities.
- 5.
- Queried representatives thinking regarding balance of
reform program, Grellet said much would depend on political
tendencies of next French Government. Hauteclocque plans go Paris
for instructions as soon as new government installed.
Strategy currently in favor at Residency is to handle
financial council decree separately, and try induce
Bey to accept
this by tying it in with fiscal year 1954 budget due April.
Residency can present Bey with three alternatives:
- (1)
- Continue unsatisfactory arrangement under which, for lack of duly constituted organism, present budget was approved by nonelected Council of Ministers (Tunis telegram 110, paragraph 2);2
- (2)
- Revive Grand Council, which Bey on record as opposing;
- (3)
- Seal decree creating mixed financial council, a more democratic and efficient body than Grand Council. Residency believes that as April 1 deadline approaches chances good that Bey will overcome his former objections.
- 6.
- Bey January 1 sealed minerals legislative decree (Tunis telegram 222, paragraph 7 and 207, paragraph IC).2
Jones