772.00/10–2854: Telegram
The Consul General at Tunis (Hughes) to the Department of State1
29. Important meeting of Neo Destour council planned for Saturday now postponed until early November partly because Latour flew Paris yesterday for new instructions re treatment Fellagah situation and partly because Destour leaders unready make critical decision on Fellagah. Announced purpose of meeting to examine all political problems but emergency is Fellagah activity which adversely affecting Paris negotiations and Bourguiba and other leaders worried. Mongislim and Masmoudi delaying return to Tunis until meeting called and Premier Ben Ammar will go Paris after Mouled November 6.
Destour party position extremely delicate: Passive treatment of Fellagah in face French demand for suppression might damage negotiations to point that internal autonomy offer be reconsidered; openly condeming Fellagah runs risk that nation might not follow party lead whereupon Fellagah continue and Neo Destour loses face and respect with result leaders become vulnerable to threats and attacks as enemies of liberation and lose value as negotiators.
[Page 897]Seydoux said while Destour meeting could stir trouble if anti-French sentiments voiced, no grounds to prohibit meeting which will be closed and no demonstrations permitted. He considers negotiations going well enough for favorable report by Destour ministers and party too delicate to invite turmoil.
He opined Fellagah will soon seek truce because munitions scarce and French victories increasing but doubted that French grant any truce preferring stand by amnesty offer (he refused speculate whether Latour would get different orders).
In view potential danger to negotiations and Neo Destour dilemma on Fellagah many observers feel moment ripe for Mendes-France make some new offer or announcement re Tunisia.
- This telegram was repeated to Paris, Cairo, Rabat, Casablanca, Algiers, Tripoli, Rome, and Tangier.↩