Office of the Historian

155. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Tunisia1

Washington, June 20, 1965, 12:40 p.m.

443. From Secretary to Ambassador. Request you convey following to Foreign Minister Bourguiba as my response his approach re security equipment during recent Washington visit:

1.
We continue our close interest in independence and territorial integrity of Tunisia. While as you recognize Tunisia must, in time of grave threat, look to United Nations and to friends, we understand desire for adequate defense force.
2.
In assessing what we can do in present circumstances, we are mindful of our common desire to avoid increased burden on Tunisian economy and diversion funds from commendable development plans, as well as major current pressures on US military assistance funds.
3.
Nevertheless, we are prepared consider limited immediate assistance, preferably in anti-aircraft or anti-tank fields, dependent on consultations our military experts. We are prepared send officer immediately to confer on this basis.
4.
As suggested to you when you were in Washington, German equipment compatible with US and we would suggest approach to Germany which we would be prepared endorse if this would be helpful, although appreciate current problems.
5.
In meantime in response to your request, we will explore possibility for minimizing the burden of old programs.

FYI: Though not stated in Secretary’s response, program we envisage would not exceed $2 million actual MAP expenditures, would be funded from FY 1966 MAP and would be on nominal sales basis, with repayment in local currency (in recognition of Tunisian budgetary situation and fact US is large holder of Tunisian dinars).

We would seek, during discussions leading to agreement on such program, to secure GOT assurances that GOT will permit adequate US end-use checking and information on past and future equipment deliveries to insure satisfactory maintenance and use of material in which US dollars are invested. End FYI.2

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, DEF 19 US–TUN. Secret; Limdis. Drafted by Blake and McClanahan on May 27; cleared by Black in AID/PC, Colonel Dregne in DOD/ISA, Trimble, Warren in G/PM, and Rusk; and approved by Carol C. Moor in S/S.↩
  2. In telegram 671 from Tunis, June 21, Russell reported that he had conveyed the substance of telegram 443 to Foreign Minister Bourguiba, who expressed appreciation but asked the Ambassador to convey his plea to Washington that U.S. aid not be too little and too late. Mentioning events in Algeria, the Foreign Minister said such assistance should be considered in a political rather than a “limited technical” framework. The United States would suffer the same loss if Tunisia were overrun as it would if Vietnam or the Dominican Republic were lost. (Ibid.)↩