Office of the Historian

66. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of National Security Council Staff to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)0

Washington, June 22, 1962.

McGB:

Aid Planning for Algeria

Rusk’s talk with Couve was just the latest in the series of unsuccessful efforts to win French cooperation in planning post-independence aid for Algeria. Tyler raised this subject with Joxe last November. Ever since the French have been stalling. Couve told Rusk (Secto 9) that “it would be best not to discuss aid for many months.”1

So we’re caught between this French position and the certainty that the Algerians will want to begin talking aid soon after independence. In fact, Information Minister Yazid has already suggested that we put some statement of willingness to aid Algeria into our Independence Day message.

So far, EUR’s position has prevailed in State—we must wait for a French green light (except for relief projects) to avoid offending DeGaulle. On the assumption that substantial planning is impossible without French coordination, AID has done little. Although they’ve picked a Mission Director, they still do not have a senior desk officer to back him up.

[Page 96]

With independence expected July 5, I don’t think we can wait any longer for the French lead. The Soviets certainly won’t. After trying for seven months to play ball with Paris, we too simply have to put ourselves in a position to respond to the Algerian requests almost certainly in the offing. Admittedly, it is unlikely that we can launch major development projects until the new government settles down, but numerous rehabilitation and public works projects will be urgent in the near future. If we are prepared to move, for instance, we can combine PL-480 food relief with a Title II program to support such labor intensive projects.

We have made a pretty decent showing so far with a number of relief projects (about $4-1/2 million in FY ’62) and the Algerians have been appreciative. Most have been administered through Red Cross or UN High Commissioner for Refugees—financial support for repatriation, food, 10,000 tents for temporary shelter, etc. State also hopes to get a medical team of six University of Chicago surgeons under CARE-MEDICO sponsorship with equipment and drugs to Algeria by 1 July. AID has approved $100,000 to support the Red Crescent, which the PAG says it will rely on after independence for relief projects.

But the problem now is to free our hand to be responsive to much larger Algerian requests in the crucial post-independence months. This will require a policy decision to act without a French go-ahead (although of course notifying the French). To stimulate State to take this step, we could send them an NSAM like the attached.2 Alternatively, you could just call George Ball or McGhee.

Bob K
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Algeria, 4/62-6/62. Secret. A copy was sent to Dungan.↩
  2. Rusk reported this conversation in Secto 9 from Paris, June 20. (Department of State, Central Files, 751S.00/6-2062) The conversation was also recorded in a memorandum of conversation. (Ibid., Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 65 D 330)↩

  3. Attached to the source text is a draft National Security Action Memorandum that reads as follows:

    “Having read the report of your talk with Couve, the President is disturbed at the impasse we seem to have reached in our persistent efforts to coordinate with the French our planning for aid to independent Algeria. At the same time as Couve comments that ‘it would be best not to discuss aid for many months,’ we have indications that the Algerians will want to begin talking aid very soon after independence. While recognizing the sensitivity of this matter, I am concerned lest our policy of waiting for the French lead may cost us too much politically with the Algerians, who will certainly be asking shortly for help. Would you therefore review this policy and let the President know how far you think we can go independently of the French? He would also appreciate a brief summary of the current state of AID’s preparations for aid to Algeria.”

    The NSAM was never issued. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Algeria, 4/62-6/62)

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