The Cold War Moves Into Algeria

...The situation might still be saved if a cease-fire could be arranged— if, for example, de Gaulle could see his way clear to accepting a UN-supervised election in Algeria, which will doubtless be proposed by the General Assembly...

...Bourguiba, who five years ago was the target of FLN assassination plots because he opposed waging an all-North African war against France, is now offering of his own volition to merge his country's destiny with that of Algeria...

...For by vying with the Chinese for influence among the Algerians, they are encouraging the rebels not only to play off West against East, or one Western country against another: They are now enabling the Algerians to make demands on them with the threat that, unless help is forthcoming, they will turn to the Chinese...

...In off-the-cuff remarks they will also reveal disgust at what they have seen in China or Russia, as well as in their other new-found friend, Cuba...

...The Algerians, of course, are pursuing this perilous course in order to force "negotiations conducted on a basis of equality" from de Gaulle...

...Should peace not materialize, however, "union" might mean that Tunisia will actively assist the Algerians in prosecuting the war, rather than see Algeria aligned too closely with the Communists...

...Were they not in need of such help, they would probably not have made their categorical statement supporting Chinese foreign policy...

...The Chinese leader pledged "total assistance and support" for "the intensification of the armed struggle, the Algerian people meanwhile not excluding . . . negotiations conducted on a basis of equality," and agreed with Abbas in "condemning severely the governments of the NATO countries, particularly the United States, which supports the French government in its colonial repressions...

...The Algerians, then, have succeeded in "internationalizing" their war on a scale few observers would have predicted a few years ago, and in doing so they have produced some tragic ironies...

...The growing importance of China was probably the main reason the Soviets decided to recognize the Algerian Government-in-exile...

...They are also confident that once independence, or the prospect of independence, has been achieved, they can easily burn whatever bridges have been built between them and the East...

...On October 5, after a round of receptions in his honor, Ferhat Abbas and fellow Premier Chou En-lai issued a 1,500-word joint communique...

...In order to keep the Communist specter out of Africa, he has declared his willingness to form "a union" with Algeria if this would help facilitate a cease-fire...

...Their about-face, which openly antagonized de Gaulle at a time when he was at odds with his allies over defense matters, meant surrendering an opportunity to exploit differences within the Western camp, and killing whatever remained of de Gaulle's dreams of becoming a third force between Washington and Moscow...

...He was purposely vague as to the implications of such a "union," but observers familiar with his pro-Westernism know that he is hoping de Gaulle will work through him in arranging some sort of French-Algerian-Tunisian peace talks...

...In Moscow a few days later, the Algerians received—with no quid pro quo—something they had long sought, but previously had been unable to obtain: de facto Soviet recognition of their regime...

...This was followed a week later by the announcement that the Soviets were sending to Tunis a shipload of supplies for the Algerian refugees...

...By showing increased interest in the Algerian situation, the Russians are also becoming a pawn in what is just about the most diabolical "positive neutralism" game in the business...

...Their own prestige at a nadir because of the Congo debacle, they doubtless felt the need for a dramatic gesture if they were to prevent the Chinese from permanently upstaging them in Africa...

...If this could be arranged, the Algerian problem would be back in the North African context where it rightfully belongs, rather than the cold war framework into which it is drifting...

...They are thus widening the cleavage between the West and the Algerians—and between the West and "African nationalism" in general...

...The poetic Ferhat Abbas, who originally opposed armed revolt because of the human toll it would exact, is now working with a man who claims he would welcome atomic war as a means of ridding the earth of millions of unwanted people...

...The more sophisticated FLN leaders realize full well that Peking is not acting out of altruism, but younger members are becoming increasingly grateful for help given when the chips were down...

...Meanwhile, the longer the conflict continues, the more the physical and moral strength of France and, indirectly, of the United States, are sapped...

...The Chinese, for their part, know that they have found a very good thing in the Algerian war, and they are anxious to see it continue...

...And should he be forced into some sort of co-belligerency, it will mean that the one avowedly anti-Communist country in Africa will be fighting against a Western power in order to check the very thing the West fears most: the spread of Communist influence...

...By Lorna Hahn The FLN has 'internationalized' its war with the French THE COLD WAR MOVES INTO ALGERIA AT the end of September, while world attention was focused on New York, the titular head of the Algerian Provisional Government arrived in Peking in time to attend the National Day festivities...

...Abbas reciprocated by "expressing his admiration" for Chinese foreign policy, as well as his full support "for the just struggle of the Chinese people for the liberation of the territory of Formosa...

...But they evidently felt it was worth it if they could recoup their own position as leader of the "anti-imperialist" forces...

...Furthermore, by inducing the Algerians to espouse their position on Formosa, they have made it more difficult for Americans to express sympathy for the FLN, and to work for a change of French policy toward Algeria...

...But one interested observer —President Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia—is not so sure this can be done...

...We are not Communists or pro-Communists," they explain, "but we must obtain military and diplomatic support wherever we can...

...ing especially significant in these developments...

...But unless some action is taken quickly, the cold war may grow very warm indeed in North Africa...

...Nevertheless, the growing Algerian rapprochement with the East, brought about by the failure of the Melun talks after President de Gaulle's seemingly promising advances, bodes extremely ill for the West, as well as for all Africa...

...By actively aiding the only genuine "anti-imperialist" struggle in Africa, they are not only gaining some influence over the FLN, but are also proving to oppressed people at large that they are true champions of freedom, and are thus increasing their prestige throughout Africa...

...The FLN delegation in New York, led by Vice Premier Belkacem Krim and Information Minister Mohammed Yazid, claims that there is nothLorna Hahn, who teaches history at Temple University, visited Algeria several times while gathering material for her recently published book, North Africa: Nationalism to Nationhood...

...For one thing, unless a cease-fire is achieved soon, the Algerians will intensify their war effort, and to do so they will have to lean more heavily on the Communists—particularly the Chinese, who have long been supplying them with funds...