261. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France1
1104. Please deliver following message from Secretary to Pineau:
“I wish to thank you for your prompt and comprehensive reply2 to my message of September 13. I have studied your views on French-Tunisian relations with the closest attention and appreciate the frankness with which you have taken me into your confidence. I am encouraged to believe that, despite the specific incidents and issues which divide France and Tunisia at this juncture, there is nevertheless a sufficient community of interest to enable the two countries to reconcile their differences. In any case, I am sure you will agree that it is imperative to the interests of the West that the closest possible relations exist between France and Tunisia.
“In your reply, you have emphasized France’s desire for the rigorous control over the quantity of arms to be supplied Tunisia and the use to which those arms would be put. I am fully aware of the very real problem which would be presented to the French Government if it were found that these arms were subsequently diverted to the Algerian rebels, utilized to their profit or employed against French troops in Tunisia. With this natural concern on the part of your government, I realize the courage and helpfulness you have shown in withdrawing your objections to the delivery by the Italian Government of a certain quantity of arms to Tunisia. As I feel that there are other very real limitations imposed by financial considerations, availability, etc., which will tend to limit the supply of arms to Tunisia, I would strongly urge you not to require the Italians, when discussing the matter with the Tunisians, to place fixed quantitative restrictions on the sale of arms to Tunisia for that country’s internal security requirements. For your action to have the necessary psychological effect on the improvement of Tunisian relations with France and with the West, it seems to me important that Bourguiba not gain the impression that an arbitrary quantitative limitation has been placed on his procurement of equipment in Italy. I believe that your objective can best be reached if the Italians endeavor to hold the Tunisian request within reasonable bounds during subsequent negotiations. We would be glad to assist by utilizing our influence toward this end if you so desire. In any case, speed is of the essence if the delivery of even a limited supply of arms by Italy is to prevent Bourguiba from any ill-considered action in this regard.
“I would also like to touch briefly on the nature of the guarantees concerning the uses of equipment which you suggest the Tunisian Government should furnish. I can understand your natural concern on this score and should tell you that recently Bourguiba [Page 693] categorically assured us that arms given the Tunisian Government would not go to the Algerians. Hence I believe that satisfactory arrangements can be reached whereby adequate guarantees are given discreetly by Tunisia in conjunction perhaps with a more general public commitment that the equipment would be used only for purposes of legitimate self defense. (As you know, we always require that US equipment furnished to a foreign country be used only for purposes of legitimate self defense.) We feel that assurances of this nature would be more readily obtainable from Bourguiba and would be more useful on a long-range basis than one which bears only on the current and temporary difficulties between France and Tunisia.
“I hope you will give me your views on these two suggestions. I need not, I am sure, reiterate to you my conviction that if this problem can be swiftly and adequately settled we will have avoided manifold complications in a most strategic area.”