Office of the Historian

37. Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Hughes) to Secretary of State Rusk1

Intelligence Note 456
Washington, June 12, 1968.

SUBJECT

  • Algeria Facing Critical Internal and External Problems: Implications for the US

In the course of the last several weeks the statements and acts of Algerian officials have shown an aggressiveness that borders at times on paranoia. After attempting to bring about a rapprochement with the US [Page 63] during March and April,2 they have over the past two weeks adopted a stance of increasing aloofness. In the meantime their relations with France have gone from bad to worse as they have adopted a bull-in-the-China-shop approach to the solution of very delicate problems. They have been both arrogant and pugnacious in their recent tiff with the Tunisians.3 Underlying much of their behavior is undoubtedly the fear that their internal security problems may be getting out of hand and the suspicion that internal and external enemies may be conspiring to overthrow Boumediene. For the US the effect has been to put our relations once again into the familiar framework of suspicion and hostility. Even more disturbing is the possibility the Soviets may be able to move into a position to establish themselves as the dominant foreign power in Algeria.

[Here follows the body of the paper.]

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23 ALG. Secret; No Foreign Dissem; Controlled Dissem.↩
  2. Beginning in late February, the Italian Ambassador in Algiers reported several conversations with Algerian Foreign Minister Bouteflika indicating that Algeria was interested in restoring diplomatic relations with the United States as soon as an appropriate atmosphere could be created for such an action. Bouteflika also indicated that he needed to be able to present tangible evidence of U.S. goodwill, such as resumption of U.S. aid, before he approached higher levels for a favorable decision on resumption of relations. (Telegram 119688 to Algiers, February 23; telegram 1367 from Algiers, March 11; telegram 1376 from Algiers, March 13; telegram 1496 from Algiers, April 15; telegram 1521 from Algiers, April 21; all ibid., POL 17 US–ALG) The general U.S. response to such unofficial feelers was that the United States was prepared to give prompt and sympathetic consideration to an authoritative Algerian Government invitation to resume relations. (Telegram 1336 from Algiers, March 2; telegram 158286 to Algiers, May 3; telegram 1642 from Algiers, May 16; all ibid.)↩
  3. See Intelligence Note 437, “Algerian-Tunisian Relations Deteriorating: A Return to Maghrebian Cold War?,” June 7, 1968 (Secret/No Foreign Dissem/Controlled Dissem) [Footnote in the source text.]↩