772.00/8–454: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State1
492. Parliamentary critics of Mendes’ Tunisian policy gathering forces for debate in National Assembly on August 10, at time Assembly called upon to fix date for discussion of several interpellations on Tunisia. The following is résumé of principal manifestations this parliamentary interest during past twenty-four hours as reported today’s press:
- 1.
- Stormy encounter took place during Mendes’ appearance yesterday afternoon before radical group. Former Minister Martinaud-Deplat criticized government policy, in which he was joined by Rene Mayer, and demanded immediate debate before group. Mendes reportedly refused “premature internal debate” but proposed that he explain his viewpoint immediately before opening of assembly debate on August 10. Group decided to send delegation to Mendes before debate to inform him of viewpoint of radical and radical-socialist parliamentary groups.
- 2.
- Deputies representing independents, peasants and WRS groups met with national center of independents under presidency Pinay and issued communique expressing astonishment over breaking of treaties with regency which they accused government of having accomplished in Tunisia without prior parliamentary consultation. Called for meeting Thursday of Directing Committee of National Center to organize position in National Assembly to any program of abandonment.
- 3.
- Protectorates Minister Fouchet, who returned Paris from Tunis last evening, met this morning with Social Republican Group including Senator Puaux representing French in Tunisia, and encountered lively opposition. He later appeared before Foreign Affairs Committee of National Assembly to provide clarifications of program.
- 4.
- Mendes this morning received parliamentary delegation representing [Page 891] French of Tunisia, including Senators Colonna and Puaux, and La Forest, Vice President of France-Tunisia Inter-Parliamentary Group. Following interview, Colonna stated Mendes did not convince them on value of guarantees envisaged for maintance French presence in Tunisia.
Comment: Debate will be stormy, but there is no indication as yet that government will not survive this test. In Embassy view principal danger lies in possibility that opposition elements may try to play up recent references by Bourguiba and Sahah ben Youssef to independence as ideal of Tunisians and force government to specify nature of guarantees that will assure French “presence”, thus forcing positions of both Tunisians and French before negotiations begin.
- This telegram was repeated to Tunis, Tangier, Algiers, Rome, Malta, and Cairo.↩