NORTH AFRICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A000900070022-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 5, 2002
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: March 5, 1958
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2002/08/U: : CIA-RJ d0890A000900070022-7
NBC BRIEFING 5 March 1958
NORTH AFRICA('-i
I. Tunisia
A. Bourguiba willing to accept Murphy proposals--evacuation of
all French troops except Bizerte, neutral observers at four
airfields in south, return of ambassadors--as first phase
toward rapprochement with France.
B. Gaillard, while not rejecting them outright, indicates they
not entirely acceptable.
C. Tunisians generally impatient at lack of action and suspicious
of good offices effort.
II. Algeria
A. Rebel upsurge continues especially in east near Tunisian
frontier where rebels reported in general control countryside
at night.
B. French claim not to have begun creation of "no man's land" on
Algerian side of border--supposed to include deforesting a
large area--but say that they plan only a border strip 4-6 miles
wide and 200 miles long (extending about 90 miles south
beyond Morice Line).
1. New influx of Algerian refugees into Tunisia--Tunisians
claim some 7,000-3,000 in passerine area--tell atrocity
stories of French paratrooper barbarism and wholesale
destruction of property in operation begun 14 February.
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2. A French general in Algeria doubts feasibility of creating
scorched earth zone.
C. Meanwhile, Lacoste continues to emphasize importance of Tunisian
aid to Algerian rebellion, now beginning its 41st month.
III. Morocco
A. Fighting in Sahara reportedly ceased on 25 February.
1. Spanish claim to have achieved objectives inland from
their perimeters.
2. French troops have retired to Mauretania.
3. The rebels hiding out and are probably reforming to
start operations again.
B. On 25 February the King publicly endorsed general Istigial
territorial claims, thereby worsening relations with Spain
and probably France.
C. Relations with West, particularly with US, seem to hang in
b.ance.
1. Rabat making new attempt to break French doniaance in area;
considerable popular agitation for closer relations with
Arab world.
2. Rabat has reiterated Nov '56 request that US prevent French
use of Port Lyautey or other American bases as entry point
for material--fears 22 carloads of supplies (including
tanks and half tracks) which entered via Port Lyautey
night of 27 February destined for use against Moroccan
irregulars in "the south."
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3. Rabat expected to make early purchase request for US
military items--last fall asked for aid to build
ammunition plant.
4. US aid and base negotiations not ping well--Moroccans
balk at terminology of defense support amendment, claim
it a derogation of sovereignty. Unwilling to commit
themselves definitively with West, as Bourguiba has done.
D. Meanwhile, King is preoccupied with need to end Algerian
hostilities.
1. Has asked US to persuade France to release Mohamed Ben
Bella--held in Paris prison since he was seized by French
military in October 56.
2. Ben Bella said to represent pro-West, moderate wing of
Algerian rebel leadership. King hopes his release could
counter pro-Egyptian wing among Algerians.
3. King opposes Bourguiba's "family solution"--which includes
US and UK participation in negotiated settlement.
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iv, France
A. Premier Gaillard apparently hopes to "spin out" good offices
for prolonged period.
1. French deputies reported restless in belief US-UK good
offices may go beyond simple reopening of French-
Tunisian negotiations.
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2. Possibility of a surprise French proposal is suggestion
by French official that NATO, to which he would admit
Tunisia and Morocco, would be better forum than UN for
internationalization French-Tunisian dispute.
B. Gaillard meanwhile maneuvering to stall parliamentary rebellion,
which now focuses on rightist demands for substantial troop
reinforcements for Algeria.
1. Rightist demands reflect military pressures to save
Algeria at all costs.
3. He could still go down next week on constitutional reform
issue, but April local election and upcoming Easter recess
now make all-out attack politically-unpracticable.
C. Speculation on De Gaulle again current:
1. No evidence yet that many deputies ready to acquiesce
to his stipulation he be legally recalled power.
D. There have been increasing indications of Y military
dissatisfaction with the gDvernment's North African policies,
particularly with respect to Tunisia.
2. Rightist politicians are seizing on the army
dissatisfaction to support their demands that the
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