772.00/9–154: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State1
931. Protectorates Minister Fouchet and Director De Courcel depart Paris September 3, for Tunisia to initiate negotiations on following day on French-Tunisian conventions envisaged in Mendes-France statement of July 31, to Bey.2 After opening statements by both sides, discussion expected center on reaching agreement on how negotiations will be carried on. Present French thinking is that French-Tunisian committee should be formed to negotiate each convention and that committees set up to negotiate conventions on rights and interests of French in Tunisia and Tunisians in France, and on administrative and technical assistance should have first meeting within ten days in Paris. Basdevant doubts that other conventions could be tackled before October in view preparatory work required. Fouchet will have overall charge of negotiations for French and both French and Tunisians expected designate experts to head their respective negotiating teams for each convention.
Basdevant did not envisage Bourguiba’s early return to Tunisia particularly since he will wish to be on hand in Paris area during negotiations. His appeal for additional measures of clemency (together with that of Salah Ben Youssef) has been noted. Basdevant implied that although French have already gone long way in this direction they would probably be prepared to go further on request of Tunisian Government as gesture of cooperativeness.