The History of America's "Africa Agenda". The Role of John Foster Dulles
By <
http://www.globalresearch.ca/author/greg-guma> Greg Guma
Global Research, April 02, 2013
On February 11, 1958 Secretary of State John Foster Dulles was asked about
Tunisia during a press conference.
A few days earlier French planes had bombed and strafed schools and a local
market in the village of Sakiet. Dulles' reply was ignored by the daily
press, and before the Internet that meant it almost didn't happen. But
Toward Freedom obtained a transcript and printed it verbatim.
Editor Bill Lloyd said it seemed like "the most eloquent testimony in many
months on the inadequacy of U.S. policy regarding North Africa." The
headline read: "Dulles Humor slights Tunisia Policy"
Dulles had been asked to "define a little more specifically for us" the US
interest in the Tunisian crisis, basically, "what US objectives are in
dealing with this situation?" TF continues online & in communities "We would
like to see in Indonesia a government which is constitutional and which
reflects the real interests and desire of the people of Indonesia," Dulles
began. He went on to say that the Indonesian people would never want a
Communist government, especially since "most of them are Moslems," and
wouldn't want a government that "maintains itself only by coercive methods
and does not respond to the will of the people."
Only then did someone in the press corps suggest that perhaps Dulles had
misunderstood the question, since he was being asked about Tunisia "and you
replied on the Indonesian. But could I ask the question again, sir?"
Dulles replied, "Maybe the same answer applies."
What followed was laughter. Eventually, Dulles did add that the US hoped to
minimize the impact of any incident in Algeria. Nothing should deflect "the
trend toward cooperation which we believe is in the interest on all
concerned."
Lloyd proceeded to deconstruct the answer. By failing to push for peace, he
explained, US policy was really encouraging "bitter-enders" and undermining
any cooperation trend. He also took aim at Dulles' exaggeration of the
communist threat, and said his so-called joke raised questions about his
judgment and the information he received. Lloyd also pointed to the banning
of unions and mentioned a controversial topic, the "French tactic of
encouraging communist penetration to destroy nationalism." Then this:
"The communist label which was so playfully tossed on to Tunisia by
Secretary Dulles also looks pretty foolish when one reflects that there are
no communists whatever in the Tunisian assembly but that slightly more than
one-fourth of the Deputies in Paris are communists.
"The danger of communism is North Africa arises largely from the repressive
French policy and our support of it with gifts of guns and money."
Among the lessons for today is to stay alert for signs of the
establishment's favorite fallback strategy - distracting the public with a
dehumanized enemy - and how the actions of other countries can create
unexpected ripples. Father & son, 1957 President Bourguiba hoped the UN
Security Council would take up the Algerian crisis. But many in his own
political party were skeptical, and called British and US help in Tunisia's
negotiations with France an "Angle-Saxon smothering operation."
Bill Lloyd admitted that Tunisia really had no one in her corner. After all,
the French used US NATO planes to bomb Sakiet and the State Department opted
to ignore it. But President Eisenhower had changed his tune since 1955. In
March 1956, he had promised to do everything possible for a peaceful
settlement in Algeria. The State Department pretended not to get the memo.
The "smothering operation" apparently meant burying Bourguiba's efforts to
make the Algerian war part of any larger North Africa discussions, and
blocking any push for separate Algerian nationhood. Lloyd reached a common
sense conclusion. Only the US was in a position to speak firmly with France
about the necessity of peace and independence for Algeria. Until then
leaders would just be addressing fringe issues - or, in the case of Dulles
on Tunisia - or Indonesia, make matters worse.
Global Visions By the end of the 1960s the non-aligned agenda, the movement
Toward Freedom had pioneered in the US, was a plank in the foreign policy
platform of many new nations. Making an editorial adjustment, the newsletter
gradually shifted focus to the emerging impacts of neo-colonialism,
acknowledging the complex economic challenges of independence, and promoting
a role for non-aligned countries as peacemakers. Lloyd also took up a new
fight - promoting satellite broadcasting as a tool for development and
peace. Clearly ahead of his time, he offered a radical vision that still
resonates almost half a century later. He wrote:
"World communication are as important to the future of world society as the
nervous system is to the human body..A new structure commensurate with
today's technological advances is necessary, institutionalizing the concept
of reciprocity, in which each nation will be given the opportunity to
broadcast its music, drama, literature and views on world affairs to the
rest of the world."
Imagine: a true global exchange of cultures beyond the reach of commercial
media, embracing interdependence and proudly promoting diversity. The 1970s
began with groundbreaking reports on the proclamation of a "cooperative
republic" in Guyana, emerging disaster in Cambodia, and Gulf Oil's support
for Portuguese colonialists in Africa. Where was the US media by this time?
Still ignoring most struggles for freedom around the world. And when they
did pay attention the coverage frequently reinforced stereotypes. TF
continued to correct the record and fill in the gaps by drawing on a network
of independent correspondents Lloyd had recruited. Maps were frequently used
to reveal geopolitical dynamics (still a good note for media covering
international news).
As editor, Bill Loyd focused primarily on the UN's role, non-alignment and
Africa. He saw hope in countries likes Tunisia, and advanced new proposals
for mediation and peacemaking. In 1973, for example, he called for "a
nonviolent international volunteer corps" that could help reduce violence
and perform essential tasks in threatened regions. That was a decade before
the launch of Witness for Peace. At the end of the '70s Bill lobbied for
world authority over the radio spectrum and the geostationary orbit for
satellites. Covering a month-long International Telecommunications Union
conference in Geneva, he peppered the leadership with questions and ideas.
Here's a taste of his thinking on the subject:
"Direct satellite broadcasting should be freed from the straightjacket of
observing national boundaries at the receiving end and put on the basis of a
world forum, with every national having its right to speak. The need for a
world forum of nations is clear. US policy over the past 25 years has been
seriously flawed by the pervasive ignorance on the part of the US public of
the aspirations and demands of the majority of humankind living in the
developing world."
"As the late Adlai E. Stevenson said, 'What America needs is a good hearing
aid!' All other countries need good hearing aids, too, in order to
understand the real world of which they are only a part. Therefore, a forum
by direct satellite broadcast, in which each nation had equal time to
present its music, literature, and view on world affairs, would be a
valuable supplement to existing news and cultural exchange channels." *
On The Road Toward Freedom: A Cold War Story, part six of six. Greg Guma
edited Toward Freedom from 1986-88, and 1994-2004.
------------[ Sent via the dehai-wn mailing list by dehai.org]--------------
Received on Tue Apr 02 2013 - 17:57:18 EDT
