FRANCE: A Plan for Algeria

The United Nations let France off last February with only a warning to seek a “peaceful, democratic and just solution” of the Algerian mess. But the U.N. put France on probation; it was clear that France would have to come forth with something more specific than last winter’s vague promises. Last week, as the U.N. prepared to open its 12th General Assembly meeting and its corridors began to echo with talk of Algeria, French Premier Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury announced his new plan for Algeria, and called Parliament into special session to consider it. Bourgès, 43, France’s youngest Premier since 1883, could expect trouble for his plan in the unruly French Assembly. His plan did not even have the full support of his own Cabinet.

It turned out to be more progressive than first hints indicated (TIME, Sept. 2). Under the Bourgès plan Algeria would be divided into autonomous federal territories, each with its own legislative assembly, elected by Moslems and Europeans on a basis of “universal, equal and secret suffrage” (voting now is weighted in favor of Europeans). Although the government’s draft law did not say so, the territories would probably be so carved that Europeans would control two assemblies, and Moslems the other four. After a two-year cooling-off period, during which France would seek to end the fighting, the territorial assemblies could establish a central federal assembly, which would have the power to appeal for more autonomy, and to seek to renegotiate France’s right to retain control of Algeria’s defense, foreign relations, and finances.

Though the plan said nothing about granting independence to Algeria, its critics argued that once fighting stopped “no French government would dare start it up again,” and in creating an Algerian assembly, France was in effect creating a legitimate body that would soon be demanding the right of secession.* Bourgès’ own Defense Minister, tall, slim André Morice threatened to resign on grounds that “this is going too far” toward independence. If Bourgès can convince his own Assembly that he has not gone too far, France must then convince the U.N. that it has gone far enough.

In Montreux, Switzerland, Ferhat Abbas, leader of the Algerian National Liberation Front (F.L.N.), rejected the French plan out of hand. “For 125 years,” said Abbas, “we have served as guinea pigs for French schemes. We will settle for nothing short of independence.”

*The late Premier Edouard Herriot once complained, “We cannot secede. Why should they?”