Office of the Historian

177. Memorandum of Conversation1

Washington, May 16, 1968, 5 p.m.

SUBJECT

  • United States-Tunisian Relations

PARTICIPANTS

  • Tunisians
    • President Habib Bourguiba
    • Habib Bourguiba, Jr., Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
    • Ahmed Ben Salah, Secretary of State for the Plan and National Economy
    • Chedli Klibi, Secretary of State for Information and Cultural Affairs
    • Mohamed Amamou, Director of the American Department
    • Rachid Driss, Tunisian Ambassador in Washington
    • Hamed Ammar, Minister, Embassy of Tunisia
  • Americans
    • President Johnson
    • Mr. Harold Saunders, White House
    • Ambassador Duke, Chief of Protocol
    • Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Joseph Palmer 2nd
    • Ambassador to Tunisia Francis H. Russell
    • Mr. Samuel King, Assistant Chief of Protocol
    • Mr. John F. Root, Country Director for North Africa
    • Mr. Jose DeSeabra, Interpreter

President Johnson asked whether President Bourguiba was satisfied with the Joint Communique which had been submitted for their approval.2 President Bourguiba said he was.

President Johnson said he had been informed of President Bourguiba’s discussion with Secretary of State Rusk earlier in the day3 and was in agreement with their exchange of views regarding Tunisia’s security and development. As regards the Tunisian desire to obtain U.S. arms from Turkey, he saw no objection in principle, but there were certain legal problems. We would be in touch with the Tunisians on this matter in due course.

President Johnson said President Bourguiba’s statements had been warmly welcomed and the warmth of his message was greatly appreciated. President Johnson said he had heard a number of favorable comments about President Bourguiba’s toast at the White House dinner. He wanted to thank President Bourguiba sincerely for his public and private statements. President Johnson said he had much respect for President Bourguiba’s opinions.

President Johnson said he did not know what the future would hold, particularly as regarded action by Congress. We were having difficulties with the Tax Bill and having to deal with a record-breaking deficit of $31 billion. There were problems with Congress over our foreign aid programs, which he himself considered to be in the best interest of the U.S. He could assure President Bourguiba that the United States would always consider what served the best interests of Tunisia and the U.S., as the U.S. is aware of Tunisia’s problems and has full confidence in President Bourguiba’s leadership.

President Bourguiba assured President Johnson that, in stating Tunisia’s concerns, he always takes into full account the difficulties experienced by the U.S. Tunisia is aware of our difficulties with Congress, such as those of taxes, which are quite normal in a democratic country, particularly in an election year. He felt sure that eventually good sense and the general interest would prevail in Congress as elsewhere. The U.S. could be proud that it has always done what is right, even though at times there may be some delay in our action. It is to be hoped and expected that a majority in Congress and among the American people [Page 271] would support constructive action. He looked to the future with optimism, as Tunisian security and development really coincided with the interest of the U.S. The U.S. can always count on Tunisia as a true friend. Tunisia knows that the U.S. gives fair consideration to Tunisia’s needs and does what is possible and is right. The relations between the two countries are good, very good, and will remain so, whatever may come.

President Bourguiba said that the ideas he had expressed yesterday are those he has previously expressed in Tunisia—before students, responsible political leaders and the people in general. In speaking to his countrymen, he was never engaged in demagoguery. He can speak honestly to his people because his popularity has been solidly established by 35 years of struggle. All he wants for his country is peace, security and development.

President Johnson said he agreed with the thoughts expressed by President Bourguiba. He had personally felt strengthened by President Bourguiba’s visit. He was happy with the present state of U.S.-Tunisian relations and looked forward to their continued consolidation.

  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Tunisia, Vol. I, Cables, 12/63–9/68. Secret. Drafted by Root. The meeting was held at the White House. The source text is labeled “Part I of II”; the memorandum of conversation covering the remainder of the discussion, which concerned Vietnam, is ibid.↩
  2. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, June 10, 1968, pp. 753–754.↩
  3. No record of this conversation has been found.↩