73. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Williams) to the Under Secretary of State (Ball)0
SUBJECT
- Aid to Algeria
Despite some speculative press reports, there has not been any offer of any large or long-term aid package to Algeria nor did we receive requests for such during the Ben Bella visit or the brief additional meeting with the Algerian representatives in Washington on Tuesday. (The telegram reporting the conversation with Ben Bella and his advisers is attached.)1
This is to confirm with you our understanding of the “Stop Order” on Aid to Algeria issued by Mr. Springsteen of your office. We understand from him that this is not intended at this time to apply to emergency [Page 108] PL 480 programs of wheat being distributed in Algeria through American voluntary agencies, nor to the Care-Medico program of assistance to the Ben Massous Hospital in Algiers, nor to similar emergency relief projects. These currently comprise the only aid in effect or contemplated for Algeria.
We believe it would react in a seriously adverse manner on our efforts to secure support for our policy on Cuba, not only in Algeria, but elsewhere in the Afro-Asian world, if it appeared that we were cutting off relief supplies to the Algerian people, presently in desperate straits, because of the stand taken by the Political Bureau and certain Algerian newspapers on Cuba.2
Copies of this memorandum have been given to AID, and AID is awaiting your confirmation of this interpretation.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.51S/10-2562. Secret. Drafted by Newsom.↩
- Telegram 649 to Algiers reported that during Ben Bella’s visit to Washington, the Algerians had taken the occasion to outline economic problems and had stressed the urgency of such problems as relief, housing, jobs, and land for peasants, but that it had been evident that they were not ready yet to go beyond discussion of economic problems and a general exploration of ways the United States could help. The telegram noted that, despite press reports to the contrary, no U.S. commitments had been made nor figures discussed. (Ibid., 611.51S/10-1662)↩
- On October 26, the Department of State informed the Embassy in Algiers that press reports that economic discussions with the Algerians had been broken off indefinitely were not correct and that relief shipments were continuing. The Embassy was authorized to privately inform the Algerian Government that if it wished additional aid, the U.S. Government was prepared to listen subject to the normal requirements relating to the provision of aid. (Telegram 683 to Algiers; ibid., 611.51S/10-2562)↩