408. Editorial Note
Between late July and mid-September, French and U.S. officials in Washington and Paris held a series of conversations regarding deliveries of U.S. arms and ammunition to Tunisia. On July 29, Cecil Lyon, Minister at the Embassy in Paris, presented to Amanrich the points outlined in telegram 408 to Paris, supra, supporting them with arguments from telegram 385 to Paris, Document 406. Amanrich stated the U.S. presentation would not satisfy Debré, noting the French Chargé in Washington had been instructed to propose that French and U.S. military experts discuss Tunisian arms. (Telegram 425 from Paris, July 29; Department of State, Central Files, 772.56/7–2959) That day, the Chargé called at the Department of State and requested that the United States suspend arms shipments to Tunisia until October and allow a French military expert to compare French and U.S. estimates of Tunisian arms stocks. The Department denied both requests, noting particularly that the latter was difficult because U.S. estimates were based on information given “in strictest confidence.” (Telegram 140 to Tunis; ibid.)
Following further discussion in Washington and Paris, the French Foreign Ministry on August 5 gave the Embassy an aide-mémoire on the subject. Dated August 4, it stated the French Government’s concern about recent deliveries of U.S. arms to Tunisia and noted that although France had been informed about the latest Tunisian order, it had not been consulted about its volume. The note maintained the new shipments risked being diverted to the Algerian rebels, and suggested [Page 874] a study comparing French and U.S. estimates of Tunisian military needs be prepared. France hoped the United States would suspend arms and munitions shipments to Tunis and proposed bilateral consultations in October. The aide-mémoire also warned against the consequences that announcement of the arms deliveries would have on French public opinion. (Telegram 535 from Paris; ibid., 772.56/8–559)
Conversations continued in both capitals. On September 16, the Department instructed the Embassy to inform the French Foreign Ministry that the United States was willing to participate in talks with the British and French on arms and economic aid to Morocco and Tunisia and that it was seeking U.K. reaction to this suggestion. (Telegram 1196; ibid., 772.56/9–1659) The tripartite discussions, held at the Department of State, October 8 and 9, 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 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; ibid., 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)