The United States Mission in Algeria A Historical Sketch Christopher Ross, April 1991 (Ambassador to Algeria 1988-1991) 2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 5 1785-1797: TREATY NEGOTIATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION ....................... 6 ALGIERS ........................................................................................................................ 6 AMERICAN SHIPPING ................................................................................................ 6 THE THREAT ................................................................................................................ 6 A POLICY DEBATE ..................................................................................................... 6 CAPTAIN JOHN LAMB ............................................................................................... 7 THE TREATY OF 1795 ................................................................................................. 7 JOHN PAUL JONES ...................................................................................................... 7 SALARY AND COST OF LIVING SURVEYS ........................................................... 7 1797-1830: DEALINGS WITH THE DEY ..................................................................... 9 RICHARD O’BRIEN ..................................................................................................... 9 ALGIERS BICENTENNIAL ......................................................................................... 9 ALGIERS AND THE ROOTS OF FSI ........................................................................ 10 THE CORSAIRS AND THE BIRTH OF THE NAVY ............................................... 10 THE DEY’S EXACTIONS .......................................................................................... 10 NAVAL CONFRONTATION...................................................................................... 11 TREATIES OF 1815 AND 1816 .................................................................................. 11 THE AMERICAN EXAMPLE..................................................................................... 11 THE LEES OF VIRGINIA FLY THE FLAG .............................................................. 12 AN ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHTING .......................................................................... 12 AN AMERICAN LOSES HIS OWN HEAD ............................................................... 12 1830-1941: VISITORS AND VICTROLAS ................................................................. 13 EARLY POLITICAL FLAIR ....................................................................................... 13 A FIRST CODEL ......................................................................................................... 13 TOURISM BEGINS ..................................................................................................... 14 AMERICAN ORIENTALISTS .................................................................................... 14 F. SCOTT FITZGERALD ............................................................................................ 14 COMMERCIAL PROMOTION ................................................................................... 15 FOREIGN SERVICE MEMORIAL ............................................................................. 15 A CONSULAR DIARY ............................................................................................... 15 On travel to the U.S. ..........................................................................................................................16 On Clearing Shipments .....................................................................................................................16 On driving ...........................................................................................................................................16 A Riddle ..............................................................................................................................................16 On Visa Regulations ..........................................................................................................................16 On immigration:.................................................................................................................................16 A Prediction ........................................................................................................................................16 On the Political Situation ..................................................................................................................17 On Economic Conditions ...................................................................................................................17 On Oil ..................................................................................................................................................17 1941-1945: DIPLOMATS AMONG WARRIORS ...................................................... 18 MURPHY-WEYGAND AGREEMENT ...................................................................... 18 3 FDR’S REPRESENTATIVE ........................................................................................ 18 SUBMARINE CLOAK AND DAGGER ..................................................................... 18 OPERATION TORCH ................................................................................................. 18 ALLIED HEADQUARTERS ....................................................................................... 19 VIP VISITORS ............................................................................................................. 19 EARLY CONTACTS WITH ALGERIAN NATIONALISTS .................................... 19 A DIPLOMATIC MISSION......................................................................................... 20 CONSULATES IN BÔNE AND ORAN ..................................................................... 20 EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FUTURE ....................................................................... 20 REPATRIATION OF WAR DEAD ............................................................................. 21 1945-1962: THE WOLVES IN THE CITY .................................................................. 22 ACQUISITION OF MONTFELD ................................................................................ 22 ACQUISITION OF MUSTAPHA RAÏS...................................................................... 22 FRENCH COMPLAINTS ............................................................................................ 22 JFK SPEAKS OUT ....................................................................................................... 23 FRENCH SETTLERS ATTACK FACILITIES ........................................................... 23 CONSULATE GENERAL MOVES ............................................................................ 24 ALGERIAN-AMERICAN CONTACTS ..................................................................... 24 CONSTANTINE AND ORAN CONSULATES OPEN .............................................. 24 ALGERIAN INDEPENDENCE ................................................................................... 24 1962-1973: A DIFFICULT BEGINNING ..................................................................... 25 FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO HAVANA.............................................................. 25 EARLY ASSISTANCE TO ALGERIA ....................................................................... 25 POLITICAL CHILL SETS IN...................................................................................... 26 CONSTANTINE CENTER CLOSED ......................................................................... 26 DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BROKEN ..................................................................... 26 ALGERIAN DIPLOMACY ASCENDANT ................................................................ 26 PRESENCE FURTHER REDUCED ........................................................................... 27 CONSTANTINE CONSULATE CLOSED ................................................................. 27 COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BLOSSOM ................................................................ 27 GAS COOPERATION ................................................................................................. 27 AN ASTRONAUT VISITS .......................................................................................... 28 1973-1991: A PERIOD OF PRAGMATISM ................................................................ 29 RELATIONS RESTORED ........................................................................................... 29 POLITICAL RELATIONS INITIALLY COOL .......................................................... 29 COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BEAR FRUIT ............................................................ 30 BEDJEDID SUCCEEDS BOUMEDIENE................................................................... 30 MILITARY SALES BEGIN......................................................................................... 30 DISASTER ASSISTANCE .......................................................................................... 30 TEHRAN HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS .................................................................... 30 VISITS EXCHANGED AND AGREEMENTS SIGNED ........................................... 31 GROWTH IN PROGRAMS AND STAFF .................................................................