Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVII, Part 3, North Africa

209. Telegram From the Embassy in Tunisia to the Department of State¹

Tunis, February 27, 1980, 1315Z

1703. Subject: Presidential Message: Bourguiba to Carter. Ref: State 51824.²

1. Confidential–Entire text.

2. Following is an Embassy translation from French of a letter dated February 25, 1980 from Tunisian President Bourguiba to President Carter. The President’s son, Habib Bourguiba Jr, plans to deliver the letter personally during his forthcoming visit to Washington (reftel). This translation was made from a copy of the French text which Bourguiba, Jr gave to me.³

3. Begin text

Mr. President:

Each time that world peace is threatened or that the principles governing the relations between states are disregarded, our regular contacts at the highest level have brought us to consult one another, and to note with satisfaction an agreement of views with regard to the great problems of our time. This identify of view is the result of our common dedication to the moral and political values which, in the last resort, have proven to be the basis of the free world.

In the course of the last several months, the world has been subjected to frequent and flagrant violations of the United Nations Charter. Asia and Africa, in particular, have been shaken on various occasions by violent actions which betray a more or less open will towards hegemony, if not domination. It is in Africa, where the challenges of underdevelopment and misery are most extreme, that the will to destabilize is brought to bear most sharply, without the community of nations having taken decisions commensurate with the danger. Our own area in North Africa has become the most immediate target, this threat deriving from the unchecked activism of the Libyan regime.

Today, Mr President, Tunisia in its turn is the object of an attempt at destabilization. You will understand if, at this particularly grave moment, I share my concerns with you. I am pleased on this occasion to express Tunisia’s profound gratitude for the spontaneous and unreserved support which, in these difficult moments, we have received from you, the American people and its leaders.

Thanks to the diligence and understanding of your administration we received expeditious delivery of a first shipment of defensive military equipment. At the same time, American political figures have proclaimed their support for Tunisia and their attachment to its independence.

This attitude has been a great comfort to me and to my colleagues. It is interpreted in Tunisia as a true indication of the esteem and active solidarity which are the basis of the constancy and stability of relations between our two countries.

The aggression of January 27, 1980 against the town of Gafsa was conceived, elaborated and directed by the Libyan regime.⁴ Our investigation has given ample proof of this. At the same time, the results of the investigation and the statements made by the principal (Libyan) leaders confirm, moreover, that Tripoli—this hardly being its first intervention—no longer conceals its determination to bring down our regime by any means available. No doubt the existence on its border of a country which is profoundly peaceful, very lightly armed, fundamentally dedicated to the cultural, social and economic progress of its citizenry, and basing itself on a political and developmental model aiming at human development, is considered a warlike act. In fact, Tunisia is an embarrassing example—given the bad conscience of those who, possessing considerable natural resources, have constantly given priority to ideological and political considerations over the demands of development. These represent two irreconcilable points of view, given the primary interest of states in development.

But the Gafsa aggression has a considerably broader significance. Through the destabilization of Tunisia, wedged in between two regimes with different ideologies, the balance of the entire region is placed in jeopardy. In creating a new area of tension, Libya is facilitating the introduction of Soviet influence on the southern shore of the Mediterranean—with unavoidable consequences for the future peace and security of the entire Mediterranean and, consequently, of the Western world.

Given the perils which lie in wait for it, and facing the challenges which confront it, Tunisia intends to remain faithful to the image which it has won through 25 years of political and constitutional stability, and by a sustained effort—through flexible planning—dedicated above all to human development. Swept today in a wake which it had never judged so urgent, Tunisia must meet the strong and equally urgent demands of simultaneously reestablishing internal political confidence and of developing a security force capable of deaing with the unforeseeable. Thus, Tunisia turns to the most powerful of its friends, the United States of America. In the immediate future and for the next several months it will be a question of lessening the vulnerability of our country through continuous strategic and military support in order to forestall any initiatives aimed at its integrity and sovereignty. At the same time, it is a question of enlisting your indispensable cooperation with regard to special financing in order quickly to redress the balance of arms necessary to the defense of our frontiers.

In thanking you again for your support, and in counting on a reinforcement of security assistance by the United States of America, I beg you to believe, Mr President, in the expression of my highest regards and my constant and faithful friendship.

Signed Bourguiba

(Penned note added as follows:)

My right arm and principal collaborator, Prime Minister Hedi Nouira, during the night suffered a problem of circulation in the brain and had to be flown urgently to Paris for treatment at the Hopital de la Pitie where he will be treated—just as was my son, Habib Jr, eight years ago—by Professor Pertuise, who took his neuro-surgical training at an American school.

Signed: With friendly best wishes,

Bourguiba, Carthage 2/26/80

End text.

Bosworth

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Correspondence with Foreign Leaders File, Box 19, Tunisia: President Habib Bourguiba, 11/78–5/80. Confidential; Immediate; Nodis.
2. In telegram 51824 to Tunis and Paris, February 26, the Department transmitted a message from Hedda: “Bourguiba, Jr. is on way to Paris with message for Giscard and plans to go on to Washington Wednesday night or Thursday morning with message for President Carter from Bourguiba. Both messages concern threat from Libya and were planned earlier but Nouira’s incapacitation has added unforeseen note of urgency. Tunisians are requesting 15 to 20 minutes with President.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800100–0521)
3. In a February 27 memorandum to Carter, Vance requested that the President meet with Bourguiba, Jr. and stated that it was “important for U.S.-Tunisian relations.” Carter wrote: “Cy, ok, 10 minutes or so—J.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Country File, Box 75, Tunisia: 1/77–1/81) See Document 210.
4. See Document 204.