Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-06
North Africa
Anti-French Unrest
Threatens Tunisio
THE SUNDAY STAR
Washington, D. c.
SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 1872
By Hugh Humphrey

IuOOtOItS VI USIO
By Hugh Humphrey
The raging fire of Arab national
ism, which already has burned the
British severely in Iran and Egypt.
has spread to the French protec-
torates of Tunisia and Morocco and
now threatens to engulf the free
city of Tangier. French and Span
iSh troops last week were reported
ready to move into Tangier to RE
store order"
For more than two months Tunisia
has been wracked by violence as the
Neodestour CNationaliSt) Party con-
tinues its battle to break the IL
year-old French hold on its country.
During that period of riots, blood
shed and strikes the United States
has been put in the middle of an
extremely delicate situation.
The American military forces want
air and land bases in Tunisia as part
Of an overall defense plan for the
Mediterranean area. They also must
avoid any offenSe to France because
of that country's Importance to the
North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
ton. To take sides certainly would
ALLEVIATE either Tunisia or France,
and neutral policy could be al
most fatal.
Domned Both Woys
It's obviously a case of damned
if you do and damned if you don't"
After several weeks of desperately
trying to keep the Tunisian mess out
of the United Nations, France last
week lost to the ASia-Africa bloc.
which succeeded in filing a formal
complaint against the French in the
Security Council. The complaint
charged that the French. since the
last century, have prevented the Bey
of Tunis from acting as the real
leader of his country. 1t said the
French rule had created a threat to
world peace.
To complicate things further, the
Bey of Enthusiastically a mere Stooge
of the French-has indicated signs
of revolt against more Paris dictation.
Both the Bey and his new Premier,
Salah Eddine Baccouche, were re-
ported fed up with the French, who
are pressuring them for speedy for
nation of a new cabinet to succeed
the one dissolved by the French sew.
eral days ago.
The desire for Self-rule in Tunisia
Is not new. The little country-about
the size of Tennessee-long was a
province of the Ottoman Empire, but
early in the 18th Century, the ruling
Bey of Tunis decided that he and
his countrymen had had enough. BY
proclamation, and by the good luck
that Turkey no longer was strong
enough to resist, he made himself
virtually independent Of the Turkish
sultan.
French Troders Arrive
A few years later the French be-
gan to exploit the commercial pos
slbilities in this independent area
between Algeria and Libya. Since
there was still some threat from Tur-
key, the Tunisians welcomed the
French as potential allies. BY 1850,
the financial extravaganza of the ma
tive rulers had reduced the country
to virtual bankruptcy, leaving the
door open for French political and
military penetration.
In 1881. the French, who had con-
quered Algeria "a years earlier, sent
out military expedition to put
down border raids by Tunisian tribes.
men. Instead of concentrating on
tribal warfare, however, the French
troops marched into the city of TuniS
and compelled the Bey to accept the
Treaty of Bardo. This pact author
lied the French to occupy any region
of Tunisia they desired, to conduct
the country's foreign affairs and to
reorganize the Tunisian economy in
the interest of the Bey's creditors
who were mainly French.
Two years later a second treaty
really put Tunisia under the French
thumb. 1t pledged the Bey to carry
out such internal reforms as might
be considered advisable by France"
Little Popular Representation
In one respect, last weeks com.
plant to the U. N. is indisputable.
Under the treaties. the acting head
OF government in Tunisia always
has been a French reSident-general.
Legislation. although proclaimed by
the Bey. has been drafted by the
French. There's been almost no
popular representation in govern
ment. France, however. recently has
indicated willingness to let Tunisia
have step-by-step transition into
Self-rule.
If full self-rule-a Neodestour OBJ
jective-is attained overnight by the
politically immature Tunisians. the
country would be a no-man's land
for the French and other minority
groups. The 3.3 million Arabs could
easily dominate the 100000 Euro
peans and the $4,000 native Jews.
Aside from the obvious French
colonialism involved in the dispute.
Frances refusal to clear out now
might stave off Communist en-
croachment in the Mediterranean
areas. There have been several
charges that the unrest in Tunisia
and Morocco is Communist-inspired.
II that is true, certainly France and
the other NATO nations cannot af-
ford the risk of walking out. A few
Russian-or Communist allied-air-
fields and naval bases at that point
in the middle sea could wreck West
ern plans for protection of Europe.