315. UNITED STATES HOPE FOR THE SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME OF THE TALKS AT ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS ON ALGERIAN SELF-DETERMINATION: Reply Made by the President (Kennedy) to a Question Asked Following Remarks Made at a Luncheon in Paris, June 2, 1961 14

It is, of course, our hope that the talks now proceeding at Évian will be successful,15 and I can think of no useful purpose at the present time in planning for the eventuality [failure of the talks] which was suggested by the question. We should look forward to the present effort which is being made to work out a peaceful solution. If that effort should fail, then of course all of us who are concerned would be expected to participate in appropriate consultations. But for the present and certainly as we look to the future, we look with hope towards those talks.

316. FRENCH VIEWS ON UNITED NATIONS CONSIDERATION OF THE QUESTION OF ALGERIA: Statement Made by the French Representative (Bérard) in the General Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, September 21, 1961 16

I shall not formally oppose the inclusion of the item in question; nevertheless, as I have pointed out at previous sessions, discussion of the question of Algeria will be incompatible with the Charter, and the authority of the United Nations can only be preserved if that body does not attempt to deal with matters outside its jurisdiction. All impartial Members of the General Committee and of the Assembly will recognize that France has spared no efforts to find a peaceful, democratic and just solution to the Algerian problem. A debate in the General Assembly will not help to bring about a solution but will only further inflame passions. My delegation will be unable to participate in any such debate and will consider any resolutions adopted to be invalid.

317. THE STATUS
STATUS OF ALGERIANS

IMPRISONED IN

FRANCE: Resolution 1650 (XVI), Adopted by the U.N. General Assembly, November 15, 1961 17

The General Assembly,

Deeply concerned at the grave international repercussions and the serious threat to the prospects of a negotiated, peaceful settlement

"The reply printed here is taken from p. 431 of Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961.

15 See supra.

16

First-person, present-tense adaptation of the text printed in U.N. doc. A/BUR/SR.136, pp. 10-11.

"U.N. General Assembly Official Records, Sixteenth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/5100), pp. 64-65. This resolution, sponsored by the representatives of 36 of the member states, was adopted by a vote of 62 to 0, with 31 abstentions (including the U.S.).

Docs. 315, 316, 317

of the Algerian question in consequence of the hunger strike of thousands of Algerians imprisoned in France,

Recalling its resolution 1573 (XV) of 19 December 1960,18 by which it recognized its responsibility to contribute towards a just solution of the Algerian question,

Recalling further its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960,19 which emphasized in paragraph 4:

"All armed action or repressive measures of all kinds directed against dependent peoples shall cease in order to enable them to exercise peacefully and freely their right to complete independence . . .' Appeals to the Government of France, in accordance with established international practice and humanitarian principles, to redress the legitimate grievances of the Algerian prisoners in recognizing their status as political prisoners with a view to making possible the immediate termination of the hunger strike.

318. THE UNITED STATES POSITION ON THE QUESTION OF ALGERIA: Statement Made by the U.S. Representative (Yost) in Committee I of the U.N. General Assembly, December 19, 1961 20

I am certain all of us earnestly hope that this will be the last time the question of Algeria will appear on our agenda. Our debate this year takes place in considerably improved circumstances. We note with profound satisfaction on the basis of statements by both parties that many of the obstacles to their agreement appear to have been removed and that at long last a peaceful solution of the problem on the basis of self-determination could well be in sight.

It would be unrealistic and unwise not to recognize that there are still difficult matters to be negotiated. However, we are confident that with the statesmanship which is now being manifested by both parties these matters too can be resolved, peace can be restored and the Algerian people can freely determine their own future.

It is significant to note in this connection that the majority of speakers on this subject, including many of those most ardently and sincerely devoted to the Algerian cause, have paid tribute to General de Gaulle and that in a very real sense this United Nations debate on the Algerian question has taken the form of enthusiastic recognition and support of his policy of self-determination and his courageous persistence in seeking a negotiated settlement. Needless to say, it is only because his efforts are being met with moderation and understanding on the Algerian side that the prospect of success seems as promising as it does.

The views of my government concerning the proper role of the United Nations on this issue are well known. We believe that the

18

Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 520–521. "Text ibid., pp. 110-111.

"U.S.-U.N. press release 3901.

United Nations has a responsibility to encourage but certainly not to complicate or to risk jeopardizing the early resumption and the successful conclusion of negotiations. We can help if we are discreet but we might harm the very ends we seek if we are over-zealous or over-ambitious.

Our position on the 34-power resolution now before us 21 follows from this overriding consideration. This resolution is on the whole moderate in tone and constructive in intent and we pay tribute to its sponsors for the restraint they have shown.

Nevertheless, we regretfully find that in our view it does in certain respects go beyond what we would consider a useful and properly restricted role for the United Nations in the present circumstances. We regret the reference to the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic in the preamble. Many member states do recognize the Provisional Government as such but a majority of the United Nations members do not do so. In light of this fact, specific reference to it in a United Nations resolution would seem to be a contentious and unnecessarily complicating factor, particularly since no one can be in any doubt who the two parties referred to elsewhere in the resolution are.

Moreover, while we would in no sense dispute or question the goals laid down in the operative paragraph, we have some doubt whether their specific indication at this time in a United Nations resolution may not impinge on the prerogatives and responsibilities of the negotiators on both sides who, we trust, very soon will be drawing up in common accord final solutions to this great and grievous question.

While therefore paying tribute to the intent and good will of the sponsors, the United States will abstain on the resolution in its pres

ent form.

319. THE QUESTION OF ALGERIA: Resolution 1724 (XVI), Adopted by the U.N. General Assembly, December 20, 1961 22

The General Assembly,

Having discussed the question of Algeria,

Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 23 in which it proclaimed the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end colonialism in all its forms and manifestations,

Recalling further its resolution 1573 (XV) of 19 December 1960 24 by which it recognized the right of the Algerian people to self-determination and independence, the imperative need for adequate and effective guarantees to ensure the successful and just implementation of

21 Infra.

"U.N. General Assembly Official Records, Sixteenth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/5100), p. 8. This resolution, sponsored by the representatives of 34 of the member states, was adopted by a vote of 62 to 0, with 38 abstentions (including the U.S.).

Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 110-111. 24 Text ibid., pp. 520-521.

the right to self-determination on the basis of respect for the unity and territorial integrity of Algeria, and the fact that the United Nations has a responsibility to contribute towards the successful and just implementation of that right,

Deeply concerned about the continuance of the war in Algeria, Taking note of the fact that the two parties concerned have affirmed their willingness to seek a negotiated and peaceful solution on the basis of the right of the Algerian people to self-determination and independence,

Regretting the suspension of the negotiations entered into by the Government of France and the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic,

Calls upon the two parties to resume negotiations with a view to implementing the right of the Algerian people to self-determination and independence respecting the unity and territorial integrity of Algeria.

TUNISIA

320. FRENCH-TUNISIAN REVIEW OF PROBLEMS OF MUTUAL INTEREST "IN A SPIRIT OF FRANKNESS AND RECIPROCAL UNDERSTANDING": Joint Communiqué Issued at Paris by the President of the French Republic (General de Gaulle) and the President of the Tunisian Republic (Bourguiba), February 27, 1961 25

General de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, and Mr. Habib Bourguiba, President of the Tunisian Republic, met at the château of Rambouillet on Feb. 27. They had long discussions which were joined by the French Premier, the Foreign Minister and the Tunisian Information Minister.

All problems of interest to the two countries were reviewed in a spirit of frankness and reciprocal understanding, particularly French-Tunisian relations. The two sides noted with satisfaction the improvement which has occurred and which should allow a solution of outstanding problems to be envisaged favorably.

The Algerian question was widely discussed in the light of recent developments and in the perspective of the future of North Africa. General de Gaulle and President Bourguiba were agreed in noting the possibilities and hope which exist from now on for a positive and speedy evolution.

The two Presidents shared the same emotion over the death of the King of Morocco and emphasized that their two countries associated themselves with the mourning of the Moroccan nation.

International questions of interest to France and Tunisia in various parts of the world were also examined. General de Gaulle and President Bourguiba noted the closeness of their general views.

English-language text transmitted by Reuters and printed in the New York Times, Feb. 28, 1961. President Bourguiba arrived in Paris Feb. 27 and departed for Rabat Feb. 28, 1961.

321. TUNISIAN INTENTION TO LIBERATE BIZERTE FROM FRENCH OCCUPATION: Address by the President of the Tunisian Republic (Bourguiba) Before a Joint Session of Congress, May 4, 1961 (Excerpt)27

It is . . . a real source of satisfaction to us to see the United States of America return to its traditional policy of anticolonialism and support for the principle of self-determination and independence for all peoples. What your country gains in affection and prestige from the recently emancipated and the still colonized peoples is greater than the anger or irritation of guilty governments, however powerful these governments may be. The forces of history are stronger than those of individual men and governments, and if you march with progress, not against it, you can never lose.

It is our common attachment to these principles which constitutes the surest foundation for cooperation between Tunisia and the United States of America. A relationship between a great power and a small one which is based only on immediate interests or on constraint, is not a happy or a healthy one. What your country needs are not satellites who vote with you automatically on all issues because they want your money, but friends who support you from conviction. I can assure you that Tunisia will always tell you when we disagree with you, just as we will always applaud you when we believe you to be right. And we expect from you a reciprocal frankness.

One of the greatest problems in the world today is the transformation of the relationship between the colonial and imperial powers and the colonized peoples. The transition from the status of subjection to that of sovereignty is not an easy one. It has been the constant preoccupation of Tunisia to demonstrate that it need not be disastrous. In the period of our national struggle to regain our independence from France we were very careful to restrain from any actions or words that might have rendered our future cooperation with France difficult or impossible. We believed firmly that a national movement based on hatred or revenge would be unfitted to shoulder the responsibilities of power. It is for this reason that we accepted the idea of a graduated progression toward full sovereignty. We never claimed all or nothing. What we claimed was the recognition by France of our right to freedom and to sovereignty, and the acceptance of the consequences of that recognition. Even today we are still unable to exercise our full sovereignty over a portion of our national territoryand I am thinking of Bizerta, still occupied by French forces against our will. I must state here that it is our firm intention to liberate our country from the last vestiges of a foreign occupation.

The same desire for a transformed relationship with our former governors has guided us in our attitude to the war in Algeria. We have never ceased to proclaim our full and unqualified support for the struggle of our Algerian brethren for independence, or to translate that support from the moral to the material plane. We have been proud to extend to our Algerian brothers all the facilities of our territory to carry on their legitimate struggle. But we have done all this not to anger or to combat France, but rather to help France to liberate herself from the intolerable burden of empire. At the same time we have tried to help the Algerian people to recover their rights. Once the war in Algeria is over, and the Algerian people enter into sovereignty and independence as we have done, we may look forward to a new era not only in north Africa,

27 Department of State Bulletin, June 5, 1961, pp. 849-853. President and Mrs. Bourguiba made an official visit to the United States May 3-13, 1961. In Washington, President Bourguiba conferred with President Kennedy (see infra), and spoke at the National Press Club. Members of the Tunisian delegation and representatives of the U.S. Government discussed economic aid programs May 8-10, 1961 (see post, doc. 323). President Bourguiba departed from Washington for New York City May 10, 1961. There, he addressed the Foreign Policy Association and visited the United Nations.