<--PREV Doc #599  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #601 Document #600; March 10, 1958 To Habib Bourguiba Series: EM, AWF, International Series: Tunisia The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XIX - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace Part IV: Recession and Reform; February 1958 to May 1958 Chapter 8: "To engender confidence"   Dear Mr. President:1 I have received through Ambassador Slim your message of February twenty-eighth setting forth your concern about the situation facing the civil population in the area along the border between Algeria and Tunisia.2 We have had somewhat conflicting reports as to the situation in this area, which I hope will not lead to consequences of the proportions which you fear.3 The United States cannot of course be indifferent to any situation which exacts a toll in lives and human misery. I continue to hope most earnestly for a peaceful and equitable solution which will respect the interests of all the parties concerned, and you may be sure that we shall continue to exert our influence to this end. Only in this way, I believe, can the real cause of suffering be removed. As you know, the United States Government is now contributing to the relief of civilian refugees in Tunisia.4 I assure you that we stand ready, here as elsewhere, to continue with those efforts, and, in the light of the findings of qualified experts, to do what we can further to alleviate the suffering which causes you and us so much concern.5 With warm regard, Sincerely 1 State Department officials drafted this letter to the Tunisian president. Eisenhower's letter incorporated suggestions from Robert Murphy, who was in London to assist negotiations designed to relieve tensions between France and Tunisia (Herter to Eisenhower, Mar. 9, 1958, AWF/I: Tunisia; see also State, Foreign Relations, 1958 - 1960, vol. XIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute; United Arab Republic; North Africa, p. 831; for background see no. 586). 2 Monghi Slim, former Tunisian minister of state and minister of the interior, had become ambassador to the United States in September 1956. Seeking to impede arms traffic from Tunisia into Algeria, the French were reported to have created a no man's land in Algeria along the Tunisian border (New York Times, Feb. 24, 1958). President Bourguiba had appealed to Eisenhower on behalf of "a defenseless civilian population" displaced by the French action. "Already, refugees, children and old people are pouring by the thousands into Tunisia," he said, "abandoning their homes and, in many cases, their families" (Bourguiba to Eisenhower [Feb. 28, 1958], AWF/I: Tunisia). 3 Acting Secretary Herter had told Eisenhower that the State Department had received indications from the French that the displacements might not be as great as Bourguiba had originally feared (Herter to Eisenhower, Mar. 9, 1958, AWF/I: Tunisia). 4 For U.S. assistance to Tunisian relief projects see State, Foreign Relations, 1958 - 1960, vol. XIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute; United Arab Republic; North Africa, pp. 836 - 37. 5 Eisenhower would also write to King Idris of Libya regarding the displacement of civilians and the President's desire to see "a just and peaceful solution to the Algerian conflict" (Eisenhower to Idris, Mar. 13, 1958, WHCF/CF: State Department). On March 20 Secretary Dulles would tell the National Security Council that Bourguiba had approved an agreement with France, allowing neutral observers to replace French military personnel remaining at four Tunisian airfields. Future discussions would determine control over the French air base at Bizerte (NSC meeting minutes, Mar. 21, 1958, AWF/NSC; State, Foreign Relations, 1958 - 1960, vol. XIII, Arab-Israeli Dispute; United Arab Republic; North Africa, p. 838; and U.S. Department of State Bulletin 38, no. 981 [April 14, 1958], 607). For developments see no. 650. Bibliographic reference to this document: Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Habib Bourguiba, 10 March 1958. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 600. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/second-term/documents/600.cfm <--PREV Doc #599  |  Memorial Commission Home Page  |  Second Term Table of Contents  |  Presidential Papers Home Page  |  Doc#  |  NEXT--> Doc #601

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