Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–5, Part 2, Documents on North Africa, 1969–1972

32. Telegram 1171 From the Interests Section in Algeria to the Department of State ¹ ²

Algiers, July 2, 1972, 1245Z

For Newsom

Ref:

• State 119678

1. I called on DepSecGen Presidency Hamdani 1100 July 2 and gave him proposal re Secretary’s visit and resumption US/Algerian relations (reftel).

2. Hamdani replied that this was important matter which would be given serious study. Bouteflika would be returning Algiers late today or tomorrow (implying that we would not have reply for several days). His only question was for clarification whether we were clearly linking Secretary’s proposed visit with resumption diplomatic relations.

3. I replied that this was the case since whatever other reasons there might be for Secretary to visit Algiers, it would be assumed, particularly following renewal with Yemen, that a major purpose of visit would be resumption diplomatic relations. Therefore, failure to do so could be interpreted as setback in relations.

4. Hamdani agreed and recalled that he had told Newsom that he did not want visit such as that of Newsom end of March to be interpreted by anyone as having failed to achieve objectives, as had partly been case in connection with Newsom’s earlier visit to Sudan.

5. Conversation continued with my reemphasizing confluence of favorable conditions and advantages of seizing moment for rapid action. Hamdani nodded but added that whatever decision at this particular time (meaning possible negative decision) it would not foreclose action in future.

6. Comment: Believe Algerians will give serious consideration to proposal but suspect current odds are against renewal. Favorable FPC decision re El Paso was major factor which we believe will lead to resumption relations. Renewal with Yemen is also helpful in long run though Algerians would not want any direct connection between that renewal and their own, and hence it might weigh against immediate Algerian renewal. Major problem for Algerians, who are ever mindful of their reputation in Third World, will be current heightened military activity in Indochina. Ideal timing from their point of view would probably be a few months hence when El Paso project is underway and when military activity in Indochina might have been reduced. I mentioned to Hamdani that AsstSec Newsom was prepared to come to Algeria. Hamdani did not give direct reply, but I believe from what he said previously that he would not want to risk “failure” of such a mission and therefore would want it only if decision to renew relations had already been made. In such case, I believe Newsom’s visit to Algeria just before and during Secretary’s visit would be helpful in providing latest Washington impressions for bilateral talks.

Eagleton

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL ALG-US. Secret; Niact Immediate; Nodis. In telegram 119670 to Algiers, July 1, Assistant Secretary Newsom had advised Eagleton that since Yemen had restored relations with the United States, and favorable action had been taken by the FPC on the El Paso-SONATRACH agreement, several preconditions to U.S.-Algerian resumption had been met. (Ibid.) In telegram 1200 from Algiers, July 7, Hamdani advised Eagleton that Algeria could not receive the Secretary and renew relations in the present unsettled atmosphere. (Ibid.)
2. As instructed, Deputy Chief of Mission of U.S. Interests Section William Eagleton proposed to Deputy Secretary-General Smail Hamdani that the United States and Algeria resume relations, adding that Secretary of State Rogers could come to Algiers himself at the end of his current trip to make the announcement.