Danger in the Casbah:
TAS, SAL
Algeria—Two Articles Danger in the Casbah By Sal Tas Paris A TREMENDOUS WAVE of optimism has flooded Europe following the recent conversations between President Charles de Gaulle of France...
...This is certainly clear from their willingness to start peace talks without previous guarantees...
...Algeria—Two Articles Danger in the Casbah By Sal Tas Paris A TREMENDOUS WAVE of optimism has flooded Europe following the recent conversations between President Charles de Gaulle of France and President Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia regarding a solution to the seven-year-old Algerian civil war...
...Thus a tense situation now exists in Algiers (and in Oran) which the FLN has not wholly been able to control...
...Moslems freely answered questions on the political situation and even talked openly about the FLN...
...This problem alone should suggest that there is no cause yet for over-optimism, despite the healthy progress that has resulted from the recent talks between de Gaulle and Bourguiba...
...and second, that the people want total and immediate independence...
...The armistice is the result of an agreement, and that agreement must cover self-determination...
...We are not now asking for conversations on the 'basic problem' as we once did...
...Seven years of murder, torture and imprisonment on both sides have created such bitterness among the young Moslem population that a large part of this group is rapidly shifting toward the Left...
...They are revolutionaries with strong pan-Arabic and antiAmerican feelings...
...The final communique and Bourguiba's statements to the press indicate that de Gaulle took important steps toward negotiation with the rebels...
...Once the military suppression begins—so the ultras think—negotiations would become impossible...
...Nasser Socialism" probably is the most accurate label that can be given to this trend, which is strongest among the young workers, the trade union people and the poorer students...
...we are willing to discuss self-determination alone, for we have decided to go ahead and prove our right to represent all Moslems by offering our program to the people in a general election...
...This seems clear, too, from events which have taken place since the meeting between the two men, such as the shift of Algerian nationalist leader Mohammed Ben Bella from an island prison to a "controlled residence" near Paris...
...Yet, while the leaders feel their position has been strengthened, they are quite sincere in their desire for negotiations...
...Then a new wave of terrorism darkened the scene...
...We wanted at least to discuss self-determination...
...A leader of the FLN gave this explanation: "De Gaulle has refused to recognize the FLN as the sole representative of the Moslems...
...At first he wanted only to talk of the armistice...
...But we could not agree to this...
...As a consequence, he has refused to discuss with us the basic problem of Algeria [independence or its alternatives...
...Nothing was left of the boisterous gaiety or the equally boisterous aggressiveness that formerly characterized the inhabitants of the French quarter...
...Thus, in one stroke we obtain two goals: We will show, first, that we have a majority of the people behind us...
...There are differences of opinion on many issues, to be sure, but Moslems refuse to discuss them while the fight for independence goes on...
...A group of French ultras, most probably students, started a series of attacks with plastic bombs...
...At least one political trend, however, is noticeable even now...
...What room for maneuver will de Gaulle have then...
...In addition, the police have not been able to lay hands on the terrorists and the Moslems seriously doubt the good faith and capabilities of the public officials...
...If a Moslem throws a hand grenade," I was told, "he is immediately caught and killed the following morning...
...If the French throw plastic bombs, nobody is found...
...The central point, therefore, is no longer the degree of independence or its timing...
...One had the feeling they would produce the green-white flag of the rebel provisional government on the least provocation...
...it is the problem of guaranteeing the safety of the French minority after independence comes...
...The FLN leaders I met in the Casbah clearly recognized the danger and were attempting to prevent the Moslems from falling into the trap...
...It is obvious that the Moslems eventually will take justice into their own hands if they have no faith in the powers of the police, and it is equally obvious that future negotiations will be very difficult if there is continuing violence in Algiers...
...But it is a curious Left, for though their social and economic ideas resemble those of the Communists, these Moslems have no apparent desire to belong to the Communist movement...
...We will defend a maximum program [for independence] and there is no doubt the majority of Moslems will vote for our program against the proposal of de Gaulle...
...I found a curious atmosphere in Algiers...
...It is in this context that the bombings organized by the French extremists are so dangerous, for the basic problem to be faced in the period of transition will be one of protecting both the French and the Moslems of Algeria against the violent actions of the extremists on each side...
...Every night three or four bombs exploded before Moslem houses, shops and restaurants...
...Clearly, if the FLN does use this tactic de Gaulle will find it difficult to reach any compromise on the question of independence...
...In any case, it must be recognized that the political situation will move toward complete independence in a very short time...
...These attacks, which are continuing, apparently are aimed at provoking the Moslems into retaliatory violence, which would in turn force the French to take up arms...
...Having just returned from a visit to the capital cities of Algiers and Tunis, headquarters of the Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN), I am convinced that the extremists on both sides will make every effort to sabotage the peace talks—and their intervention may prove more serious than is now realized...
...In the Casbah and elsewhere one finds the Moslems solidly behind the FLN...
...Even if the FLN and the French Government do come to an agreement on the position of the French Algerians, how will their safety be guaranteed...
...But while the FLN position is juridically strong, a period of transition is politically inevitable...
...By contrast, in the Casbah and other Moslem quarters the once sullen mood had changed to a hopeful, positive and even dynamic attitude...
...But their task is especially difficult because the party must carry on its activities clandestinely...
...Moreover, despite its new position of strength, the FLN has been rather moderate in its recent tactics...
...The faces were gloomy and the mood was one of resignation...
...The change was startling, for only a year ago the Casbah was ruled by fear...
...Nevertheless, it must be stressed that there is danger of over-optimism...
...The outlook of the Provisional Government has hardened since last December 10, when for the first time the Moslems publicly demonstrated in the streets of Algeria for the FLN...
...The changes in Algiers are reflected in the attitude of the FLN leaders in Tunis...
...On the contrary, they have strong feelings about their own national and cultural singularity...
...World opinion and French public opinion will force him to accept the verdict of the Algerian people, and we will negotiate with de Gaulle only on that basis...
...Its real strength, however, will not be apparent until independence is achieved...
Vol. 44 • March 1961 • No. 12
