Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXIV, Africa

23. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Algeria¹

Washington, June 23, 1965, 9:43 p.m.

3147. For Algiers. Embtel 3294.²

1) Dept concurs your recommendation that you inform Bouteflika USG prepared examine possibilities for “fruitful cooperation” referred to by Fonmin at mutually convenient time. If asked, Dept will take line here that question of need for recognition of new regime is under study and in meantime USG is continuing normal contacts with Algerian officials.

2) From all indications we have from Embassy Algiers and other sources, Boumedienne Government making as good progress as can be expected under circumstances toward consolidation its control. While there is some evidence internal discontent exists and may continue, regime has shown signs of determination and ability to deal with it, at least on its current scale. We therefore proceeding on assumption new regime is achieving reasonable measure of stability and that it would be politically disadvantageous for us to postpone indefinitely our giving assurance to GOA of USG desire for maintenance of relations between two governments.³

3) Re Bandung II, you should take opportunity during call on Bouteflika to state that, contrary some reports, USG has made no effort discourage Afro-Asian states from attending Algiers conference. Moreover, USG naturally interested in conference and in this connection wishes GOA to know we believe all Afro-Asian states having right to participate, such as South Korea, South Viet Nam and Malaysia, should be permitted to attend. US hopes that GOA assurances of non-alignment in foreign affairs will be reflected in support for attendance at conference of these states and support for constructive resolutions in Afro-Asian interest rather than anti-US and anti-Western polemics.

In discussing foregoing with Bouteflika you should avoid any implication US endorsement of Conference or that US position is contrary to that of Afro-Asian Commonwealth countries or strong moderates.

For Other Action Addressees. Please convey to host government our views regarding recognition, (numbered para.2), indicating we would welcome any comments. In this connection we note GOT view (Tunis’s 683)⁴ that for Tunisia question of recognizing new regime does not arise.

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 16 ALG. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Stoltzfus and Blake; cleared by White of S/AH, Fine of AFP, Phillips of P, Manhard of FE, Nelson of AID, Kearney of L, and Williams; and approved and initialed by both Rusk and Ball. Also sent to Rabat, Tunis, Addis Ababa, Tripoli, Paris, and London, and repeated to Cairo, Saigon, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Manila, Bangkok, and Djakarta.
2. Dated June 23. (Ibid.)
3. Telegram 3216 to Algiers, June 28, instructed Porter to see Bouteflika as soon as possible to affirm that the U.S. Government looked forward to continuing friendly relations with the Algerian Government and to confirm its desire to explore fruitful avenues of cooperation at a mutually convenient time. Porter was informed that the Department intended to say, if asked, that the U.S. Government recognized the Government of Algeria and considered that there had been no interruption in diplomatic relations. (Ibid.)
4. Dated June 23. (Ibid.)