450. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, February 5, 19571
SUBJECT
- Visit of Crown Prince Abdul Ilah of Iraq
VI. SITUATION IN NORTH AFRICA
[Here follows the same list of participants as Document 445.]
Dr. Jamali stated that Iraq hoped that the new states in North Africa—Morocco, Tunis and the Sudan—could be won over to our side.
The Secretary remarked that there were good grounds for hope on this score. There remained, of course, the problem of the French in Algeria. We believe that if the Algerian debate in the General Assembly is conducted in a spirit of reason rather than of emotion, it will be beneficial in helping to persuade the French. We do not feel that a concrete substantive resolution could influence the French or Algerians. The Secretary had discussed this matter yesterday with the Tunisian Ambassador. We ourselves have a divided record on independence. Although we fought for it in the Revolutionary War, we fought against it in the Civil War. The situation in Algeria is admittedly somewhat different from that which existed in the U.S. in 1861 since Algeria’s population is predominantly non-French. The Secretary felt, however, that the value of UN consideration of the problem will depend largely upon the persuasive power with which reasonable views are expressed.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 787.11/2–557. Secret. Drafted by Eilts.↩