78. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy0
Here is the interim report on Algeria you requested. Your NSAM has already helped to clear the air. The town now understands that you don’t want to rely exclusively on French leadership, that you want more than a token US “presence”, and that you haven’t blackballed Ben Bella for his naivete about Castro. Williams launched a working group last week with strong words about Algeria’s importance and your interest in it.1
Our emergency food program now totals about $65 million and will hit $80 million by April. About 35% of the population depend completely on it over the winter, but we will cut back sharply when the spring harvest matures. More will go into food-for-work projects. One reforestation job is supplying intermittent employment for 15,000 workers for 20 months, plus food for their families; Ben Bella wants ten more such projects.AID will support through June a $550,000 CARE-Medico staffing of a hospital near Algiers. We’ve also sent surplus tents and 10 mobile health units ($181,000), contributed $100,000 to the Algerian Red Crescent, begun US training for several administrators, and brought 53 students to US universities.
The Algerians are now acting more soberly as they face up to recovery problems. Ben Bella is trying to get on a better footing with the French, seeking loans from Arab oil producers, and asking us to begin aid talks. While all agree that we must leave the major aid burden in Paris, specific US proposals may spur the French to move faster. Porter also feels that a few specific offers will forestall wild requests. So we’re considering four pilot rural rehabilitation projects to employ 60,000 workers (supplying the subsistence for an added 300,000 dependents) at a cost of about $15 million, $11 millon of it in food.
We’re also looking cautiously at some military aid, largely to give us leverage with the army. Although the French consider this their province, Algeria is reportedly sensitive about seeking substantial military help in Paris. Ben Bella’s made some noises about civic action to put demobilized soldiers to work.
[Page 115]Ben Bella is looking to Nasser for military training, as well as economic help. As for Bloc aid, it has been limited to a few spot gifts and some Bulgarian doctors. So far, Ben Bella seems to have convinced his colleagues to look west. We will have a tentative action program shortly.
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Algeria, 10/16/62-12/31/62. Secret.↩
- On December 20, an interagency meeting with representatives from the White House; the Departments of State, Defense, Commerce, and Labor; the Bureau of the Budget; the CIA; AID; USIA; and the Peace Corps met at the Department of State to consider NSAM No. 211. A summary record of the meeting is in the Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 65 A 3501, Algeria 000.1-121, 1962.↩