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

7. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Algeria ¹

Washington, January 13, 1964, 8:52 p.m.

1455. Dept concurs your proposal see Ben Bella following return from summit.

While appreciating tense atmosphere resulting Oran problem, we hope such meeting might offer opportunity express growing concern here over espousal anti-American causes by Algerian press, radio, FLN and other semi-governmental political groups and some evidence Algerians may be encouraging closer relations other African states with Bloc and Bloc-oriented nations. (Report Algerians sought encourage Moroccan restoration relations with Cuba [Rabat’s 947];² Tunisian relations with China [Tunis 434]).³ While GOA continues stress interest in close ties with U.S., espousal, often in anti-American context, of Viet Cong, Cuba, Korea, and other causes sheds doubt on real interest Algerian leadership in close relations with us.

Department realizes there is genuine strength in Algerian public attitudes related to Bloc and Arab support for social change; opposition to colonialism; support for militant nationalism. We realize GOA attitudes affected by need for external economic assistance and consequent pragmatic desire receive aid all quarters, by internal pressures, by difficulties with Morocco, and by ambitions for African leadership. Nevertheless, Algerian quasi-official support continues for issues far removed from North Africa and of apparent significance only in general support reflected for anti-Western causes. FLN entertainment Italian Communist Party one example.

Dept welcomed Ambassador’s initiative in protesting to GOA on pro-Viet Cong demonstration (Embtel 1309).⁴ Dept raised this and more general question with Ambassador Guellal January 10 and suggests these points be made in call on Ben Bella:

1. USG seriously concerned by increasing reports of events in Algeria which suggest accelerated effort by quasi-official organs and groups espouse Communist side East-West issues such as Viet Cong, Cuba, and Korea.

2. We would regard most seriously any endorsement by GOA such activities or any indication GOA was seeking further these causes among other African nations.

3. We do not have in mind so much spotlight on Soviets and Communist Chinese which came as result recent visits; we do have in mind demonstrations, press accounts, radio broadcasts, and FLN party actions which support causes friendly to East.

4. We cannot, in one party state in which press and radio controlled by government and party, consider what these organs say as something independent of government policy.

5. Policy of Algerian press, radio, and party organs these issues seems to U.S. markedly inconsistent with normal non-alignment.

6. U.S. has brought specific incidents to attention Embassy Washington and Foreign Office from time to time. In spirit desire for promoting close relations, USG desires President be aware our concern these matters and inevitable effect on relations of continuing exploitation by institutions considered quasi-official of anti-American causes, essentially taking aligned position in Cold War on these issues.⁵

Rusk

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 23–8 ALG. Confidential. Drafted by Newsom; cleared by Valdes of SOV, Dean of FE, Follestad of ARA, and McCloskey of P; and approved and initialed by Tasca. Repeated to Paris and pouched to Rabat and Tunis.
2. Not found. All brackets are in the source text.
3. Dated January 9. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 16 CHICOM)
4. Dated December 24, 1963. (Ibid., POL 25 ALG)
5. In telegram 1516 from Algiers, January 24, Ambassador Porter reported that he had not taken up the matter of Algeria’s pro-Communist propaganda activities directly with Ben Bella, but had asked Algerian Ambassador Cherif Guellal to convey to Ben Bella the message that the United States was watching this carefully. (Ibid., POL ALG–US)