81. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy0
SUBJECT
- Plan of Action for Algeria
Pursuant to National Security Action Memorandum No. 211 of December 14, 1962, the Department of State has coordinated the efforts of the recipients of NSAM No. 211, as well as several other agencies having interest in programs for Algeria, and now submits a Plan of Action for Algeria. Our Ambassador to Algeria, William J. Porter, also participated in the final deliberations. The Action Plan has been concurred in by all of the participating agencies.
Actions projected for the next seventeen months are predicated on the assumption that France and Algeria will by and large be successful in working out their new relationship as independent nations, and that France will continue to carry the major aid responsibility. U.S. strategy is to continue to encourage this trend through advance coordination with the French of planned U.S. actions in Algeria and encouragement of the Algerian Government to take a moderate course in balancing nationalist goals against the immediate necessity of constructive Franco-Algerian cooperation.
Basic U.S. objectives are: (1) to prevent significant communist bloc influence, (2) to promote U.S. influence, and Free World influence consonant with U.S. interests, and (3) to contribute to Algerian political stability, economic recovery, and progress toward sound development.
In order more effectively to pursue these objectives and to maintain and improve the reasonably good U.S.-Algerian relationship that has developed over the past year, it is recommended that the United States take the following actions in FY 63 and FY 64:
- First, proceed with diplomatic efforts, which have already made considerable headway, to explain our foreign policies to the Algerian Government and to extend and strengthen contacts with influential elements in and out of Government;
- Second, continue the emergency feeding program until the Algerian summer harvest and phase it out as soon as possible thereafter;
- Third, proceed with U.S.-Algerian planning and implementation of a rural rehabilitation program which will require PL 480 food as partial [Page 119] wages, between $2 and $4 million for tools, equipment, and other commodities, and some U.S. technical assistance including planning experts and operational or middle-level manpower;
- Fourth, explore with the Algerian Government other means of converting food-relief to food-work programs including extension of the reforestation program to other areas;
- Fifth, continue AID support for the highly successful CARE-Medico teams of U.S. doctors and nurses at Algiers until ways and means can be found to convert this program to one supported by private U.S. resources without loss of impact;
- Sixth, explore various possibilities for an AID-sponsored impact program in the field of public health designed to help alleviate emergency-type health problems and to train Algerians in the use of mobile health clinics;
- Seventh, provide selected Algerians with training in the United States in technical and industrial skills through an accelerated AID participants program and encouragement of leading U.S. industries to provide some on-the-job training;
- Eighth, at a time to be recommended by the U.S. Ambassador at Algiers, send AID development loan experts to Algeria to review a series of development loan projects which the Algerian Government has proposed, with the purpose of being prepared to act upon a selected number as soon as possible in FY 64 within the framework of U.S. appropriations and, of a limited U.S. role in the Algerian development effort;
- Ninth, Embassy Algiers is to consider and make recommendations concerning other fields where U.S. technical assistance is needed and would be effective;
- Tenth, take appropriate action to promote U.S. private investment in Algerian development as soon as current negotiations to clarify Algerian policy in this field have been concluded;
- Eleventh, continue all successful Algerian students currently enrolled in U.S. colleges under U.S. Government-sponsored scholarships, award new exchange scholarships in FY 64 in a number at least equivalent to those granted this year, and continue to encourage activity of private foundations and organizations in this field;
- Twelfth, proceed with planned build-up of USIA programs and activities in Algiers, Constantine, Oran, and the countryside, endowing them wherever possible with a public service cast related to Algerian aspirations for economic and social development;
- Thirteenth, promote U.S.-Algerian trade and general relations through planned future participation in Algerian international fairs, through a USIA-Commerce sponsored U.S. National Exhibition, and through various Department of Commerce media and meetings;
- Fourteenth, limit action on military assistance to such planning primarily oriented toward civic action, reduction of armed forces, and internal security as may be necessary to meet the contingencies of (1) a GOA request for aid unavailable to them elsewhere in the West or (2) indications that the GOA may seek significant new assistance from the Communist bloc under circumstances which may make desirable US initiative in offering a MAP program;
- Fifteenth, seek further information on the probable nature of French aid and Algerian economic planning, undertake a longer-term assessment of the Algerian economy as soon as possible, and take appropriate steps to encourage other Free World nations and international organizations to assist Algerian recovery and development.
Apart from the inter-agency Action Plan, it is recommended that further consideration be given here in Washington to the possibility of a positive and timely response to Prime Minister Ben Bella’s recent request for Peace Corps assistance. It is felt that a Peace Corps contribution to Algeria in the near future would be very valuable.
The trend in policies and actions of the Ben Bella Government has been pragmatic and promising in terms of basic U.S. objectives. We must, however, remain alert to such contingencies as a rupture in the politico-military alliance which underpins current Algerian stability, or serious disagreement between Algeria and France leading to sharp reduction or retardation of French aid. In any event, constant re-assessment of the adequacy of U.S. actions projected in this plan will be required because of the transitional and quickly changing stage which Algeria will be going through in the period which this Action Plan embraces.