263. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tunisia1
175. Pass following message from Secretary to Bourguiba:
“Since Mr. Mokaddem’s conversation with Ambassador Jones on September 4 we have been giving the closest and most urgent [Page 695] attention to your Government’s request that the United States assist Tunisia with its internal security needs and, specifically, its need for small arms and ammunition.
“I know that I need hardly assure you of the sympathetic manner in which we have viewed this request. Ever since the establishment of relations between our two countries, the United States has been anxious to assist your Government, within the limits of our abilities, in its efforts to build a strong, stable and prosperous nation. In recognition of Tunisia’s need for economic development, our two countries have worked out programs of economic development with funds made available by this Government. Similarly, in recognition of the importance to Tunisia of an effective system of internal security, we have agreed to send a small mission to assist the Tunisian Government to establish its internal security needs.
“In view of these developments, I can assure you that there is every disposition on the part of this Government to assist Tunisia in meeting its legitimate internal security needs. In this spirit, we have in the last two weeks had conversations with other interested Governments in an effort to facilitate Tunisian purchases of small arms and ammunition from nearby continental sources. These conversations, which Ambassador Jones will describe to you, are still going on and I am hopeful that they will soon bear fruit. If they should not, we shall have to find other means of meeting your requirements, keeping in mind the urgency which I know this problem presents you.
“In this connection, I assume that there will be no difficulty in Tunisia giving appropriate formal assurances regarding the use to which the arms would be put. For example, in instances in which we supply arms to foreign countries, we generally require assurances that the arms will be used only for purposes of legitimate self-defense and that they will not be transferred to other custody without the consent of the United States Government. I assume that there would be no problem in your giving assurances to whichever Western country supplies your needs.
“I look forward to meeting Mr. Ladgham. I know how closely and devotedly he and you have worked to associate a strong Tunisia with the free world and I am confident that you will be successful in this vital task.”
For Embassy: Next immediately numbered telegram contains additional points to be communicated verbally to Bourguiba.2
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 772.5/9–2257. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Rome and Paris.↩
- Telegram 176, September 22, instructed Ambassador Jones to explain in general terms the exchanges between the United States and France and to urge Tunisia not to publicize U.S. efforts to satisfy Tunisia’s internal security requirements. (Ibid., 651.72/9–1157) President Bourguiba was pleased by the Secretary’s message but was pessimistic regarding the likelihood of completing the Italian arms deal. (Telegram 246 from Tunis, September 24; ibid., 772.56/9–2457)↩