142. Editorial Note
Tripartite talks on military and economic assistance to Morocco and Tunisia were held at the Department of State on October 8 and 9. The discussions noted improvements in the Moroccan and Tunisian Armies and the need to supply them from Western sources and examined training, replacement of equipment, and economic and financial aid to the [Page 289] two countries. The participants agreed they should make every effort to maintain Tunisia’s and Morocco’s pro-Western orientation, acknowledged that France’s participation was essential to achieve this goal, and agreed to consult periodically. (Summary sent to Paris in telegram 1618, October 14; Department of State, Central Files, 770.00/10–1459) Details of the talks were reported to Paris in telegram 1544, October 8, and telegrams 1562 and 1567, October 9. (Ibid., 770.00/10–859 and 770.00/10–959) A summary of the talks is attached to an October 19 memorandum from Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Satterthwaite to Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Merchant. (Department of State, Central Files, 771.5/10–959)
Tripartite talks on Laos were held in Washington on October 19 with Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Parsons, Ambassador Caccia, and Ambassador Alphand representing their countries. On December 1, the Embassy in Paris was authorized to remind the French Government that the United States was ready to resume the tripartite discussions on North Africa if there was a French program, but there was no reply. (Memorandum from White to Merchant, January 5, 1960; Department of State, WE Files: Lot 72 D 441, de Gaulle Memos—1960)