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July 2, 1976 - Ford, Tunisian Special Envoy Habib Bourguiba, Jr.
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July 2, 1976 - Ford, Tunisian Special Envoy Habib Bourguiba, Jr.
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Lebanon
Libya
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Algeria
American Revolution Bicentennial, 1776-1976
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
)
a
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
Habib Bourguiba, Jr., Special Envoy of President
Bourguiba of Tunisia
Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
Amb. Ali Hedda, Ambassador of Tunisia
DATE AND TIME:
Friday, July 2, 1976
10:15 - 10:45 a. m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
Bourguiba: I have a mission with many purposes. First, to present
the best wishes of my father, who is the George Washington of his
country. Just in May we celebrated our 20th anniversary and you
were kind enough to send your number two man, the Vice President.
NSC MEMO, GUIDELINES state leview 3/13/04
President: I want to welcome you here and thank you for the lovely
bicentennial gift.
[Photographers took pictures of the gold olive tree.
]
NARA. DATE 7/28/04
Bourguiba: It has a two-fold meaning. First, the apple tree is the
symbol of peace. Then it is also the symbol of continuity.
President: It is an exquisite gift.
I was pleased to send the Vice President to your anniversary. Our
relations are excellent and, so far as I know, we have no issues
E.O.
between us.
Bourguiba: That is true. It has not always been fashionable to be
BY
pro-American but we have been consistent.
CLASSIFIED BY
Henry A Kissinger
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATIONG
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
EXEMPTION CATEGORY
5 5(B) 1,3 (B)
AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp to Det.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
- 2 -
President: We greatly appreciate that. I hope your father's health
is better.
Bourguiba: It is, but he has bad periods. He is 73 years old -- and
has spent much time in prison. [He described President Bourguiba's
imprisonment, expecially during World War II when Hitler had him
released in hopes of helping the effort.
President: Are there any issues we should discuss?
Bourguiba: This was my main purpose in coming here. My talks
with Marshall Mars of OPIC were very reassuring. We are now in a
position to absorb technology transfer. We could cap the $750 million
the US has given us by becoming the showcase of development. Our
birth rate has gone from 3.5 to 1.6. My father has a very clear
project in his mind. I was pleased to see the emphasis here on agro-
business. If we don't over the next five years produce enough to feed
the people, the progress of the last 50 years will be wasted.
President: What is your chief crop?
Bourguiba: Cereals, olives, fruit. We are also reforesting. We have
a national tree day.
Many American banks are now interested in coming to Tunisia, I am
proud to say.
All this policy of the wisdom of my father is in possible jeopardy
because of our neighbors. Libya is ruled by a crackpot. I have met
him. He should be in a nut house. This is our short-term danger but
very serious. He has acknowledged publicly that he is inciting the
people of Tunisia and Egypt to overthrow their leaders.
Over the longer term the danger is Algeria. They have inherited
the French sense of "grandeur". They have a concept of a super-
Algeria reaching from Senegal to Egypt.
We don't want to endanger our economic development but we have
to "keep a stone in our hand. 11 Unfortunately that stone is expensive.
Our overall needs are $1.2 billion over the next five years. I have
already been to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. They are inhibited by
appearing to help opponents of Libya and Algeria. I would appreciate
it if you would put a little friendly pressure on them.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
- 3 -
President: We will certainly do that. We will also look at the
military and economic program and do what we can.
Bourgiba: We need, as a top priority, missiles against tanks and
aircraft.
Qaddafi has developed a base right on our border -- out of an old
base.
President: We will do our best.
Bourguiba: We are the only practicing democracy in the Mediterranean.
[Describes from Turkey around the sea what problems are being
faced. ]
ICAD
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet
WITHDRAWAL ID 018444
REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL
National security restriction
TYPE OF MATERIAL
Briefing Paper
TITLE
Meeting with Habib Bourguiba, Jr.
CREATION DATE
07/02/1976
VOLUME
6 pages
COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID
031400927
COLLECTION TITLE
National Security Adviser. Memoranda of
Conversations
BOX NUMBER
20
FOLDER TITLE
July 2, 1976 - Ford, Tunisian Special
Envoy Habib Bourguiba, Jr.
DATE WITHDRAWN
08/02/2004
WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST
GG
Samilizal 12/6/04
Approved For Release 2004/12/06 : NLF-MUC-2U-5-1-9
1b
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
3833
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
MEETING WITH HABIB BOURGUIBA, JR.
[Mr. Ambaasador or Mr. Bourguiba]
Friday, July 2, 1976
10:15 a.m. (15 minutes)
The Oval Office
FROM:
Brent Scowcroft
or
I. PURPOSE
Your meeting presents a useful opportunity to demonstrate US
interest in good relations with Tunisia. [President Bourguiba,
whose health has been failing for some time, is unable to travel.
He dispatched Prime Minister Nouira to meet with you last year.
Vice President Rockefeller attended the Tunisian Twentieth
Anniversary celebrations in Tunis this March. ]
Your purpose in the meeting should be to:
-- Express appreciation for the lovely Bicentennial gifts.
(A goldolive tree [picture at Tab B] and an exhibit of Roman
DECLASSIFIED, with postions exempt
and Punic mosaics, now on display at the Kennedy Center.)
Tunisia; and express appreciation for the policies of
AUTHORITY 12/6/04;
NLF, DATE 4/19/07
-- Emphasize the value we place on close relations with
moderation which President Bourguiba has pursued, and
his constructive counsel on the Middle East situation.
-- Express understanding of Tunisia's security concerns
(the Libyan, Algerian "threat") and your desire to be help-
ful within the limits of our resources.
-- Assure Bourguiba Jr. that the US will continue to play a
strong role in world affairs and express the hope that Tunisia
will work with us on important multilateral issues.
BY
Subject to GDS of E.O. 11652
Automatically Declassified on
December 31, 1982
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
Approved For Release 2004/12/06 : NLF-MUC-20-5-1-9
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
- 2 -
II. BACKGROUND, PARTICIPANTS & PRESS ARRANGEMENTS
A. Background: President Bourguiba has delegated his son as
his Special Envoy to Washington in honor of our Bicentennial
and personally requested you meet with him in the letter at
Tab C. Habib Bourguiba, Jr. is carrying a special message
for you from his father and has also brought with him
Tunisia's Bicentennial gift, a gold olive tree. [He will not
present this personally to you. Also, in honor of our
Bicentennial, the Tunisians sent an exhibit of ancient
Roman and Punic mosaics; Vice President Rockefeller
attended the opening of this exhibit at the Kennedy Center
this week. ]
We do not know the contents of the message which Bourguiba Jr.
is said to be carrying from his father but, in addition to
Bicentennial greetings, it may request continued strong US
support to Tunisia and an active US role on matters of concern
to Tunisia, especially the Arab-Israeli negotiations. President
Bourguiba has a strong emotional attachment to the United
States and Bourguiba Jr. 's comments may reflect this.
US-Tunisian relations remain excellent and there are no
unsettled bilateral issues. President Bourguiba attaches great
importance to a "special relationship" with the US End has also
viewed this as the key to his economic development and
military security. Over the past twenty years we have given
Tunisia more than $700 million in development assistance.
Current levels ($10-12 million annually) are significantly
reduced from previous years and though Tunisia has accepted
these cuts with grace, they nonetheless always hope for more.
Grant military aid (MAP) was terminated in 1975 but we have progr:
med $15 million in FMS for each of FY 76 and 77.
Internally, Tunisia, with meager resources, has made
impressive gains under President Bourguiba's leadership
and is one of the more moderate Arab governments. But
Tunisia is currently experiencing a period of unease about
what will follow in the post-Bourguiba period. President
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
Approved For Release 2004/12/06 : NLF-MUC-20-5-1-9
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
- 3 -
Bourguiba has been the principal figure in Tunisian
politics for two decades and has shaped Tunisia's
moderate foreign policies against pressures for more
radical departures from the younger generation. His
chosen constitutional successor is Prime Minister
Nouira but there have also been reports that Bourguiba
Jr. would be named to this position (although he is also
not in especially good health. ). Pressures for more
radical policies are certain to increase from within
and without when Bourguiba passes away.
Tunisia's foreign policy is conditioned heavily by its
lack of two main resources and the consequent need
to remain on good terms with as many countries as
possible and particularly with its more powerful neighbors.
Tunisia is officially a non-aligned country and is cautious
to preserve its Third World credentials (including ties
with the USSR and China). At the same time, he has
closely aligned Tunisia with the West, in large part
due to Bourguiba's strong personal attachment to
the United States. In the Arab context, Tunisia main-
tains good relations with the Egyptians, Saudis and
other moderates to counterbalance pressures from
Algeria and Libya. The latter is Tunisia's main
concern and the two engage in steady harassment,
intensified since an abortive Qadhafi proposal for
union in 1974. Qadhafi has openly called for the
overthrow of the Bourguiba regime and the Libyans
have been implicated in various subversive activities
against Tunisia. In this context, US assurances
of support assume special importance to the
Tunisians.
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
Approved For Release 2004/12/06 : NLF-MUC-20-5-1-9
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
- 4 -
Tunisia has been helpful in the MiddleEast peace talks and
supports US efforts to bring at out a final settlement.
President Bourguiba is especially interested in seeing the
Palestinians (PLO) brought directly into the negotiations.
He has urged a continuation of US efforts and sees our influ-
ence in the area as a healthy deterrent to Soviet expansionism.
The Tunisians are very concerned over present developments
in Lebanon.
Tunisia has also consistently been a voice of moderation in
international councils but is also unwilling to isolate itself
from the prevailing Third World or Arab majority on issues
of importance to us. While we appreciate these constraints, we
believe Tunisia could give greater support to the US on those
issues where Arab or African sensitivities are not directly
involved, such as Korea. Tunisia last year voted for post-
ponement of the Puerto Rican issue in the Committee of 24.
Tunisia would like to see US influence increased in Black
Africa and actively supported US policy on Angola. It has
urged us to press Rhodesia and South Africa to initiate reforms.
25X1
B. Participants: Habib Bourguiba, Jr., Tunisian Ambassador
Hedda (both speak English). Secretary Kissinger and Brent
Scowcroft.
C. Press Arrangements: Meeting to be announced; White House
photo only.
III. TALKING POINTS
General and Personal
-- It is a great pleasure to welcome you. I have the greatest
respect for His Excellency, President Bourguiba, and greatly
appreciated his recent letter to me. Please convey to him my
warmest personal regards and my appreciation that he designated
you to visit with us.
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
Approved For Release 2004/12/06 : NLF-MUC-20-5-1-9
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
- 5 -
-- This is a special year for both of our countries. We were
proud to send Vice President Rockefeller to the 20th Anniver-
sary Celebrations of Tunisia. Tunisia's magnificent gifts
(gold olive tree and mosaics exhibit) will be permanent reminders
of the enduring ties between our people.
US-Tunisian Relations
-- The US greatly admires the moderate policies which Tunisia
has promoted under President Bourguiba's wise leadership, in th
post-colonial period.
-- The US has enjoyed very close relations with Tunisia, and we
very much want to strengthen these ties in the future.
-- I am pleased that we have been able to contribute to Tunisia's
impressive economic development and to have cooperated with
your Government in strengthening its security. We will continue
to work with you in these areas. We will do all we can to help
within the limits of our own resources.
Middle East, Lebanon
-- I would welcome your views on how Tunisia sees the situation
in the Middle East evolving.
-- For our part, we remain determined that there must be
further progress in the Arab-Israeli negotiations and we are
continuing our efforts to see how this can be achieved. We
appreciate Tunisia's support. We feel that the progress
achieved thus far must be built upon in order to reach a lasting
settlement and one which takes into account the legitimate
interests of the Palestinians.
-- We regret the tragedy which has unfolded in Lebanon. The
magnitude of human suffering is enormous and we are saddened
that such a close friend as Lebanon should be the scene of such
destruction. We have made every effort diplomatically to
encourage an end to the fighting and a political solution. We
have lost our Ambassador in the process but we are determined
to continue our efforts. That is why I have dispatched another
special emissary to Beirut. All interested parties must continue
to urge a negotiated solution.
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
Approved For Release 2004/12/06 : NLF-MUC-2U-5-1-9
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
- 6 -
25X1
We appreciate the interest of Tunisia in a satisfactory
solution to the Palestinian problem. We agree that any final
settlement must include this. At the same time, Israel's
right to exist and Resolutions 242 and 338 must be accepted,
something which the PLO has been unwilling to do.
Multilateral Issues
-- It is my hope that the US and Tunisia can continue to work
closely together on international issues affecting both our
countries in multilateral fora. We appreciate your support last
year on the Puerto Rican issue and the constructive role which
Tunisia has played in international councils. We want to
continue to work closely with you as these issues arise in the
future.
CONFIDENTIAL (GDS)
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
Presidential Libraries Withdrawal Sheet
WITHDRAWAL ID 018445
REASON FOR WITHDRAWAL
National security restriction
TYPE OF MATERIAL
Biography
CREATION DATE
06/24/1976
VOLUME
1 page
COLLECTION/SERIES/FOLDER ID
031400927
COLLECTION TITLE
National Security Adviser. Memoranda of
Conversations
BOX NUMBER
20
FOLDER TITLE
July 2, 1976 - Ford, Tunisian Special
Envoy Habib Bourguiba, Jr.
DATE WITHDRAWN
08/02/2004
WITHDRAWING ARCHIVIST
GG
Exempt 12/6/04
GERAED
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
DIVISION OF LANGUAGE SERVICES
(TRANSLATION)
LS NO. 56844
MM/MSS
French
TUNISIAN REPUBLIC
The President
Carthage, June 4, 1976
Mr. President:
This year the United States of America is celebrating the bicenten-
nial of its independence. This commemoration has deep meaning for Tunisia,
because the event marked the beginning of a vast movement of history and
the strengthening and application of principles of government to which we
are particularly attached.
For these reasons, it is my conviction that all peoples who draw
strength from the sources of democracy and freedom join sincerely in
this commemoration. For decades I personally waged a strenuous battle
for the triumph of these principles and for the establishment among
nations of relations based on trust and mutual respect.
This was my dream and it is today a reality for my country. During
that long struggle and in the darkest moments of the colonial period, I
was especially careful to safeguard the bonds of friendship and esteem
which our two States established at the dawning of United States history.
His Excellency
Gerald R. Ford,
President of the
United States of America.
GERALD
2
You will understand, Mr. President, why it would have been my greatest
pleasure to take part personally with you in the events commemorating the
bicentennial. Regrettably, = shall be unable to attend as my state of
health no longer permits extensive travel.
Therefore, I am appointing my son to represent me personally and to
express, on behalf of Tunisia, our desire to maintain and to strengthen
the relations of friendship and cooperation which exist between our two
countries.
The gift which my son will deliver to you on my behalf represents
for Tunisia not only the ancient symbol of peace, but also the tree whose
age-long fruitfulness continues to reward perseverance in the struggle.
May it serve to express the homage of the Tunisian people to your nation's
work of enlightenment and of peace.
I avail myself of this occasion to convey to the American people my
warm congratulations and sincere wishes of prosperity. To you Mr. President,
I extend the most ardent wishes for success, happiness, and health, and beg
you to accept the assurances of my very high and friendly consideration.
[s] Bourguiba
Habib Bourguiba
President of the Tunisian Republic
GERALD
LIBRARY
womms.
Baurgertra Jr.
2
10:15-10:45
2 July 76
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DECLASSIFIED
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, E.O. STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES state hview 3/13/04
12958, SEC. 3.5
BY
NARA. DATE 7/29/04
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