CLARIFICATION on NORTH AFRICA

Not since the end of World War II had the U.S.-French alliance been so troubled as in recent weeks. As France suffered one reverse after another in North Africa, many Frenchmen came to believe that the U.S. was indifferent to the decay of the French empire, and even regarded with complacence the possibility of French eviction from Algeria, a part of metropolitan France since 1848. To counter the rising tide of anti-Americanism in France, a clarification of the U.S. position on North Africa was long overdue. Last week, in a Paris speech approved in advance by President Eisenhower, U.S. Ambassador to France C. (for Clarence) Douglas Dillon made that clarification. Said he: are today a number of people in France who seem to feel that the U.S. has not been adequately supporting France in North Africa or, worse still, that we have even contemplated the possibility of replacing her in that area.

Nothing could be further from the truth . . . My Government has loyally supported the French government in its search for solutions to North African problems . . . The U.S. has consistently supported France when North African subjects have been discussed in the United Nations. The most recent instance was our strong support last fall of the position that Algeria is an internal French problem . . .

Equal & Interdependent. Now let me elaborate a little on our policies. First let us look at Tunisia and Mo rocco. With these two countries the French government, animated by the liberal traditions for which France is justly famous, has concluded agreements . . . Henceforth the relationships between France, on the one hand, and Morocco and Tunisia on the other, will be freely negotiated as between sovereign equals . . . You have all heard that the people of the U.S. are "anticolonialist" by tradition. That is true and we are proud of it.

But what does this mean? It means that we believe . . . the less-favored peoples of the world should be brought forward as rapidly as possible to a state of freedom in which they can freely and rationally choose their own destiny.

Such freedom of choice can take many forms. It by no means requires a rupture between the peoples that have newly acquired their freedom and those that have led them along the path to this freedom. Therefore it should come as no surprise when I say that the U.S. hopes for and favors the continuation of the closest possible interdependence between France and Morocco and Tunisia.

Solid Support. Now let me turn ... to Algeria. Here the problem is quite different and the solution must undoubtedly be different. The four departments of Algeria are French territory. There are 1,200,000 Frenchmen living in Algeria alongside 8,000,000 Moslems . . .

The French government has proposed a liberal program, the basic element of which is a search for new arrangements for the continued coexistence of the French and Moslem communities, new arrangements to be freely arrived at by discussion between the chosen leaders of the Moslem com munity and the French community in Algeria. The French government has solemnly promised free elections for the purpose of choosing these leaders. But we all know that elections cannot take place while disorder reigns. Hence we in the U.S. fervently hope that peace and order will come soon to the Algerian countryside . . . My countrymen have always been shocked by blind acts of terrorism, and those who take part in such activity should not for a moment imagine that they have the support of my Government or of any segment of our public opinion.

May I repeat, so that there can be no possible misunderstanding. The U.S. stands solidly behind France in her search for a liberal and equitable solution of the problems in Algeria . . . The French Republic, in its search for liberal solutions that will insure the continuance of the French presence in North Africa, has the wholehearted support of the U.S. Government.

North African nationalists were outraged by the Dillon speech, which Algerian Leader Messali Hadj called "contrary to the principles of American democracy." Frenchmen, however, cheered it. Said French Premier Guy Mollet: "President Eisenhower and Mr. Dillon are great friends of France. I want to express my thanks and those of my country to both of them."

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