ABSTRACT
This chapter examines in detail the history of two places upon the northern coast of Africa, Algeria and Tunis, into which the European State penetrated. A fly-whisk and the equilibrium of the Mediterranean were the ruin of the Dey, the Kroumirs and the Paris Stock Exchange of the Bey. In order to complete the survey of Europe's penetration of Mediterranean Africa, it would really be necessary to examine the policies which have given Egypt to Britain, Tripoli to Italy, and Morocco to France. The idea that Tunis had for France a vast military importance has not died so quickly or so completely as the similar theory which once prevailed with regard to Algeria. Tunis and Bizerta have proved of little strategic importance to France. The official documents published in those Memoirs also enable us to obtain a clear view of the beliefs and desires of eminent Frenchmen with regard to Tunis and Tripoli.
