242. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Minister of the French Embassy (Vimont) and the Deputy Director of the Office of Western European Affairs (Tyler), Department of State, Washington, April 26, 19561
SUBJECT
- Establishment of direct diplomatic relations with Tunisia
During a call at the Department, M. Vimont said that the French Government had felt that Premier Bourguiba had gone too far in summoning the Consuls of the various powers, after his self-appointment as Foreign Minister.2 The French Government considered that if any foreign power were, as a result, to elevate its representation from that of a Consulate to that of a Legation or Embassy, this would constitute “a not very friendly gesture” (“un geste peu amical”). M. Vimont added that if the United States Government were apprehensive lest another power, not already represented in Tunisia, should seek to establish diplomatic relations ahead of the U.S., there would be ample time for the French Government to forewarn us through the High Commissioner in Tunis, and we could immediately take action first, since our representative is already on the spot.
I observed that events seemed to be moving fast, both in Tunisia and Morocco, in the direction of assumption of control of foreign relations by the two newly independent powers, and that I was afraid that the French position of insisting on waiting until the Parliament had ratified the abrogation of the treaties which had defined the previous relationship was difficult to sustain. M. Vimont said that he personally agreed, but repeated that this was the existing position of his Government.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 122.954/4–2656. Confidential. Drafted by Tyler.↩
- Bourguiba established a Neo-Destour government on April 14, taking the Defense and Foreign Affairs portfolios for himself in addition to the Premiership. France was unwilling to recognize Tunisia’s right to establish embassies on its own in advance of the conclusion of a diplomatic convention between France and Tunisia.↩