Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, The Near East and Africa, Volume V

772.00/9–1851

Memorandum of Conversation, by G. McMurtrie Godley II, Office of Western European Affairs

secret

[Washington,] September 18, 1951

Subject: French Protest Regarding Bourghiba

Participants:	Mr. Jean Daridan, Minister-Counselor, French Embassy
	Mr. Jean-Pierre Benard, First Secretary, French Embassy
	Mr. Godley—WE

Mr. Daridan and Mr. Benard called this morning to say that they had been instructed by their government to inform us that the French Government considers Bourghiba’s broadcast over the Voice of America and his reception by ranking officials of the Department to be an unfriendly act.¹ I remonstrated pointing out that Mr. Bourghiba is a prominent member of the Neo-Destour party which is presently participating in the Tunisian Government and that he traveled to the US on a passport issued by the French authorities. I also called their attention to the fact that the labor organization in Tunisia affiliated with the Neo-Destour had broken with the WFTU, that a prominent member of the Neo-Destour occupies a position of importance in the anti-Communist ICFTU, and that Bourghiba himself had attended the Milan conference of this organization.

Mr. Daridan replied that notwithstanding these facts the Neo-Destour is known in Tunisia and North Africa to be a Nationalist party and as such is opposed to the continuation of the French position in Tunisia. He added that even were Bourghiba’s conversations in the Department politically innocuous, Bourghiba or his Nationalist colleagues in Tunisia and North Africa generally would interpret his reception by an important officer as U.S. support for a movement opposed to the French in an area that France considers vital to its own security.

Mr. Daridan also said that the timing of the events was so unfortunate that it need not be commented upon.

He then inquired whether the Department was taking any action to forestall a repetition of such occurences. I said that as far as I knew no instructions as yet had been given to the Voice of America to clear with us future appearances of North African Nationalists. Mr. Daridan then said that Mr. Schuman had spoken to the Secretary on the matter and the Secretary had said that such instructions would be given to New York.² I remarked that I was not aware of the conversation between Mr. Schuman and the Secretary.

With regard to Mr. Bourghiba’s discussions in the Department, I told Mr. Daridan that in his conversations Mr. Bourghiba had strongly supported Mr. Schuman’s plans for the evolution of Tunisia and that the Neo-Destour only feared that the plans might be modified. Mr. Daridan replied that political evolution in North Africa cannot be achieved overnight and certainly the recent manifestations of Near and Middle Eastern nationalism have not facilitated the task of those in Paris who are advocating a continuation of evolutionary developments in Tunisia.

1. Telegram 10, September 19, to Tunis, repeated to Paris, Tangier, and Rabat, explained the Bourguiba statement over VOA as follows:

   “New York Times art of Sept 14 by intermingling part of statement made by Bourghiba over VOA [on September 12] with statements made to NY Times reporter gives mistaken impression Bourghiba’s remarks on VOA constituted plea for Freedom Moslem nations. Dept takes view that study text his remarks … clearly shows moderate nature his statement which essentially greeting to Moslem world on occasion Feast of Great Bairam.” (511.724/9–1951) Telegram Actel 4, September 19, from Ottawa, reported that Secretary Acheson had discussed the Bourguiba VOA broadcast with Foreign Minister Schuman, and he had “apologized for what he understood happened, expressed hope it would not happen again, but did not make any reference or commitment re clearance procedure of any kind.” (611.72/9–1951) Telegram 1853, September 25, from Paris, transmitted the text of a personal letter to Secretary Acheson in which Foreign Minister Schuman drew attention to the serious danger he saw in any further contacts of Department of State officials with Bourguiba. Telegram 12, September 28, to Tunis, transmitted the following information about the VOA incident and its aftermath:

   “Secy informed Schuman Bourghiba will not be recd by competent officers Dept upon his return from San Francisco and that Bourghiba will not be afforded facilities VOA. Bourghiba has previously been recd in Dept only by Bourgerie and by Kopper Deputy Director NE. Bourghiba did not address AFL Convention San Francisco.” (511.723/9–2851)

2. Secretary Acheson and Foreign Minister Schuman were in Ottawa for the Seventh Session of the North Atlantic Council, September 15–20.