Evening star., 1952-12-10
France, Africa and the u. N.

whether by coincidence or deliberate design,
violence has broken out In Morocco at moment
when the United Nations General Assembly has
taken it upon itself to discuss the question of
independence for Tunisia, Frances protectorate
in North Africa. Both places have long been
accustomed to riotous outbreaks, but this time
there is at least some reason to suspect that the
trouble-ugly and bloody-has been consciously
stirred up by nationalist extremists in an effort
to influence the Assembys deliberations.
The Moroccan violence has erupted in con-
nection with 24-hour general strike called in
protest against the brutal assassination OF Farlat
Hached, Tunisian nationalist and labor leader.
The assassination, of course, represents the very
sort of thing that France-which is boycotting
the U. N deliberations as interference in internal
domestic affairs-haS been extremely anxious
not to have happen. Nevertheless, although the
dark deed certainly has not been the work of any
sane Frenchman, although it may in fact have
been perpetrated by Communists or totally reck
less Arab extremists, it has been exploited to
incte mob passions against the French, some
of whom have been killed with unspeakabe
savagery.
In the circumstances, France has under
standably resorted to strong measures in an
effort to restore peace and order. The Pinay
government has right and duty to do this.
The breeders of violence, the nationalist ex-
tremiStS, the incendiary agtators-CommuniStS
and non Communists alike-are dangerous people
who must be dealt with as such lest Tunisia and
Morocco be reduced to state of senseless revo-
lutionary anarchy. If force is the only thing
that can hold them in check as an irresponsible
or murderous minority that needs very much to
be checked, then force ought to be and must be
used. And the French-who have interchangeable
legal authority in the two protectorates- should
fo,,, - 49,
all their friends in the free world have reason to
Sympathize with them and to hope that their
frmness will succeed in pacifying the situation.
To say this is not to say that the Tunisians,
or the MoroccanS, are not entitled to strive for
Self-rule They have that clear right but they
do not have the right to commit excesses in
exercising it, AS far as France Is concerned, 1t is
willing and anxious-as it has repeatedly en-
phasized-to negotiate with Tunisia, and next
with Morocco, to work out common-SenSe
program for step-by step progress toward full
autonomy in everything but foreign policy. This
is a reasonable attitude. But the extremists
with the Communists furtively making the most
Of the situation-have been less than reasonable,
and the United Nations will therefore be wise,
during its consideration of the ISSUE to keep that
fact we'll in mind and to moderate itself
accordingly.
The Arab and Asian members of the U. N.
have been acting as a bloc in this matter to
bring the greatest possible pressure to bear
against France. Britain has made clear that it
opposes such pressure, and the United States
seeking to offend neither side-has backed a
compromise resolution recognizing the issue as
an internal French problem but advocating at
the same time that the Pinay government resume
negotiations with TuniSa ION an urgent basis"
There is good ground for doubling that the
United Nations should intervene in the dispute
in any way, but since it has intervened-at least
to limited degree-it had better proceed most
cautiously to insure that its deliberations 90 not
have the effect of bull in china shop.