The Outlines of Compromise
PHILIP, ANDRE
The Outlines of Compromise By Andre Philip The failure of the French Government in Algeria is not that its policy has been misguided, but rather that it has had no policy at all. For a year and a...
...Before such round-table talks begin, we must undertake the necessary preparatory work...
...And we run the danger of arousing nationalism to a pitch which will make possible all kinds of totalitarian adventures...
...Thus there remains only a short time for us to find, if it is still possible, a French solution of the Algerian problem...
...If it remains linked to France, its inability to raise its standard of living to a level comparable to ours will be a source of constant irritation: it will reproach lis and regard itself as the \ictim of exploitation...
...It is along such lines that negotiations must be pursued...
...Then, having called upon the disinterested parties who have been present at the negotiations to testify to our good faith, we shall say: "We can do no more...
...Two different communities live in impoverished and overpopulated Algeria: a native community which is undergoing its own revolution d la 1789, and a community of European origin which also considers Algeria its native land...
...We must undertake negotiations with the National Liberation Front, with the Algerian National Movement, and with independent nationalists...
...But these positive features were nullified by the trilogy introduced into the motion: cease-fire, elections, negotiations...
...Algeria is an impoverished country, whose population is on the rise...
...To achieve such integration, there must be an external power which will serve as arbiter...
...We must give the minority the absolute guarantee of its rights, and we must establish a Federal Court to guarantee individual and commercial rights...
...The difficulty of the task is obvious...
...What are the essentials of the Algerian problem...
...They will be difficult...
...Its imposition from without would inevitably be interpreted as genocide...
...If negotiations break down, they might testify as to what really took place...
...we must recognize the reality of the birth of an Algerian nation, composed of two communities which in the long run must achieve integration...
...in the case of Tunisia, recently refusing financial aid it promised...
...The day the United States steps in with proposals for a solution, they will be accepted by the great majority of the people of Algeria, including the French inhabitants, who will recognize that American power can guarantee them their lives, their liberty, and the normal pursuit of their business...
...Such a development is inevitable, for the world cannot permit the present anarchy to spread throughout North Africa...
...if you do not accept our final proposals, we shall impose them at once and shall launch a decisive military effort to crush those who do not accept them...
...Algeria must pull in its belt over a period of time in which it will have to equip its agriculture and industry...
...If we continue to turn a deaf ear to such requests, tho inevitable consequence will be the detachment of Tunisia from our customs union and its economic orientation toward other countries...
...I am not suggesting that we accept international arbitration, but it would be useful to have two or three European elder statesmen attend the round-table conference...
...If, moreover, the economic situation of these two countries continues to worsen, the Communist danger will become a reality, and the United States, which has kept hands off until now, out of friendship for us, will be obliged to intervene...
...The extremists, who would rely on violence, may succeed in breaking the ties which should continue to bind Algeria to France...
...While Algeria is a nation, she is unable to provide for her economic development...
...they may fail or encounter critical moments...
...The problem is to give Algeria a structure which would permit the growth of an integrated nation and would lead to mutual respect for the interests and traditions of both communities...
...If in the next few weeks the Government does not live up to its responsibilities, we may expect that at the next UN General Assembly the United States will take over the power of arbitration...
...The birth rate of the natives is high, and substantial economic progress is impossible if birth control is not introduced, as in India...
...If we do not make good use of this time, let us have no illusions about the outcome: We face international intervention and the total loss of Algeria...
...Doubtless, the resolution voted by the Socialist party at its Lille Congress last year was an effort to define a policy for Algeria...
...We see a growing exodus of people and capital, generating a grave economic crisis in these two countries...
...Finally, our effort in Algeria is increasing the diplomatic isolation of France and intensifying French nationalism...
...In the present atmosphere, even the most liberal statute will fail if it is imposed from without, and we shall be confronted by the refusal of the majority of the population to participate in the institutions we create...
...Like most underdeveloped countries...
...the frightful massacre at Melouza some months ago demonstrated that, with 400,000 men under arms, we were still unable to protect the few elements of the Moslem population that have not turned against us...
...Possibly a time will come when, having offered the most generous proposals, we shall be unable to go further...
...Elections, by themselves, could not furnish such a solution, since the only elections which Algeria has known in the course of its history have been fraudulent...
...These gentlemen should be present at the negotiations, follow their course, and intervene if need be as mediators...
...For a year and a half, we have put forth a military effort requiring heavy sacrifices...
...Yet, even if the Arab birth rate were to decrease, economic development in Algeria is not possible save at the cost of enormous unprofitable expenditures...
...Before the war, maintaining the standard of living in Algeria cost 208 billion francs [$8.3 billion in 1939] over a four-year period...
...an increase of 6 per cent would have required 600 billion...
...No one would accept a cease-fire without agreement on the minimum principles of the new Algerian settlement...
...We have a few weeks still left to us in which to try to establish the necessary contacts and begin negotiations...
...In order to commence negotiations under favorable auspices, certain principles ought to be understood from the beginning: • We must recognize Algeria's right to nationhood...
...But birth control will not be accepted in a country that is not politically autonomous...
...To increase living standards by 3 per cent a year would have required -148 billion...
...An Algerian nation exists, but it is divided and torn...
...We must recognize that once such talks begin they encounter many difficulties, and we should see to it that third parties are present...
...But if we are to act thus, it is vital that we do not throw away this trump card by imposing a statute on Algeria before negotiations begin...
...They might be designated by the governments of the six nations belonging to the Iron and Steel Community and presided over by the Secretary General of NATO, Paul-Henri Spaak, who has always been a faithful friend of France...
...they are condemned to live together...
...That does not mean we should recognize the National Liberation Front as the only other power in the country...
...It called for the creation of a political authority, the establishment of an Algerian legislature and executive...
...She should therefore relinquish certain rights inherent in national sovereignty —and this holds true for Tunisia and Morocco as well—¦ in favor of a supranational Franco-North African federation which would be empowered to deal with problems of security, diplomacy and, above all, economic planning...
...France has worsened the situation by not responding to their requests for technicians and...
...It has been clear from the start that this method could not produce results...
...Meanwhile, the war in Algeria increasingly aggravates our relations with Tunisia and Morocco, causing ever greater uneasiness among the French who still reside in these countries...
...The massacre of Melouza proves that a part of the population refuses to accept its authority, and that the National Liberation Front must impose its will by terror...
...France should have been that power, but is not, because of the capitulation of the Government's authority...
...Today, there are close to 1.3 million Algerians of European origin, as against more than 8 million natives...
...It has failed...
...We must do so by negotiating with those who are fighting against us...
...It insisted on the necessity of a struggle on two fronts, demanding severe measures against the reactionary and racist elements of the European population in Algeria...
...We cannot even consider the possibility of abandoning either of these two communities...
...Only those countries that are autonomous can assure their economic development...
Vol. 40 • September 1957 • No. 37
