Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa

88. Memorandum From Robert W. Komer of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy⁰

Washington, November 7, 1963.

Yazid is coming in at Ben Bella’s personal request to (1) tell you BB is sorry he couldn’t come himself, but appreciates our impartiality in Moroccan hassle; (2) complain delicately about US press campaign against Algeria, which they’ve hinted is officially inspired; (3) express concern lest US business interests in Morocco have influenced our policy.

I know Yazid and think you can be quite direct with him. Indeed a show of some umbrage on last two points would be useful. Algeria has been getting a bad press because of its own actions, including the manner in which it has gone out of its way to befriend Castro. As for very modest US business interests in Morocco influencing our policy, this is nonsense. Nor do US firms have any stake in Tindouf mineral deposits.

The basic message we want to get to Ben Bella is that we want to be on good terms with Algeria. In fact, we’ve leaned a lot farther in their direction than they have in ours. We also intend to stay strictly out of inter-regional disputes unless they get out of hand and threaten to become East-West issues. So if Algeria gets too heavily in hock to USSR/Cuba/UAR and then moves to overthrow Morocco, this would put us on the spot and almost force us to react. On the other hand we aren’t going to back Hassan against Ben Bella, unless BB is egged on by outside powers and massive aid to go after Hassan. And a big competitive arms race between Morocco and Algeria would be a pitiful waste of scarce resources both sides badly need at home.

Don’t hesitate to mention our special problem with Cuba (or you’ll make me a liar). That Castro is a threat to our security is 100% obvious from the way he let Soviet missiles in. As a practical fact, Algerian partiality toward Cuba is simply going to cool US-Algerian relations. As to Cuba as a model of Socialist development, only a staggering Soviet subsidy keeps the place from falling apart. Castro can’t even grow sugar cane (which we’re certainly not stopping him from doing).

All in all, as Bill Porter’s cable¹ suggested, you can trade a few salutary punches with Yazid; a shrewd operator and basically pro-US, he’ll use them to good effect on Ben Bella.

Bob Komer²

0. Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Morocco Security, 1960-1963. Secret.
1. In telegram 982, November 6, Porter advised that if Yazid visited the President alone, the conversation could be extremely frank. He suggested that the President raise the constant hostility toward the United States displayed by Algeria’s official press, radio, and television. Porter complained that the United States had fed almost half of Algeria’s population during the first hard winter following independence, but that they had had to “wring” acknowledgement of U.S. aid from Ben Bella, who in his speech on November 1 had mentioned only aid from Communist countries. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 7 ALG)
2. Komer’s handwritten note at the bottom of the source text reads: “We’ve just heard from Paris that Algerian emissary to De Gaulle invited him to visit Algeria. You may get the same. Suggest you also tell Yazid to be cautious with press about your talk.” (Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Morocco Security, 1960-1963)