Office of the Historian

407. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in France1

Washington, July 25, 1959—5:27 p.m.

408. Paris 334 and 329.2

1.
Department concerned French have wrong impression re our recent intentions. We believe Embassy should emphasize following point with French, preferably during broader presentation authorized Deptel 385: We have arranged for phasing ammo as per Murphy’s statements to Alphand.3 We do not intend suspend shipments until October, and July 23 renewed assurances Tunisians in response their query here that our present intention to fulfill agreement and that first [Page 873] shipment will arrive during August.4FYI. First shipment departs August 2; we will, of course, notify French shortly in advance. End FYI.
2.
It is of utmost importance we not divulge opinions survey team which based on information given us in strictest confidence by Tunisian Government and which still being considered by team prior USG review.5 Danger of leak to Tunisians by French and consequences thereof evident. You should avoid being drawn out on this subject, perhaps stating that report not yet drawn up or submitted and you, therefore, unable discuss possible findings at this time.
Dillon
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 772.56/7–2359. Secret. Drafted by Bovey and L. Dean Brown, cleared by S/S, and approved and signed for Dillon by Murphy. Repeated to London, Tunis, Algiers, and Geneva.↩
  2. Telegram 334, July 23, reported the memorandum outlined in telegram 327 to Paris (see footnote 7, supra) had been given to the French Foreign Ministry at the same time it was delivered to Amanrich. (Department of State, Central Files, 772.56/7–2359) Telegram 329, also July 23, reported that Cecil Lyon, Minister at the Embassy in Paris, had given Amanrich the memorandum. Amanrich had stated French hope that the United States would stretch out delivery of equipment to Tunisia as long as possible and would give France the serial numbers of weapons sent to Tunisia. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Telegram 385 to Paris is supra. A memorandum of Murphy’s July 7 conversation with Alphand is in Department of State, Central Files, 772.56/7–759.↩
  4. No record of this conversation has been found.↩
  5. See Document 410.↩