Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-31
france Gives
Tunisiia Control
OF Own Affairs
Bid to End Violence
Mode in Surprise
Visit by Premier
BY the Associated Press

France gave Tunisia control Of
its internal affairs today-with
a few strings attached-in
lightning effort by Premier Pierre
Mendes- France to end the ter
rorism in this troubled protec-
torate.
Acting with the authority of
his cabinet, the Premier told the
Bey of Tunis that if he desired.
a new government could be
formed which. except for defense
and foreign affairs, would be en-
powered to negotiate with France
the terms of the new internal
sovereignty.
The statement was made to
the Bey within two hours after
Mr. Mendes-France's surprise
flight from Paris to outline the
new proposals approved by his
cabinet yesterday.
THE internal autonomy of the
state of Tunisia is recognized
and proclaimed without reserve
by the French government" Mr..
Mendes- France told the Bey in
a formal statement. 1.-THE high
quality of the Tunisian leaders
justif1es that the people should
be called upon to direct their
own affairs"
Right to Stay in Tunisia.
Mr.. Mendes-France told the
Bey French colonists have every
right to remain in Tunisia. He
said they ought to continue,
themselves, their sons and the
sons of their sons, a task which
meets the interests of the coun-
try and of all the people"
In Paris spokesman for the
French Foreign Office explained
that the framework of the new
government which must be set
up would be outlined later. He
said it could be expected that
a Tunisian assembly would be
chosen and empowered to leg
islate on all internal measures
within the limits of the agree
ment reached in negotiations
between the French and the new
Tunisian government.
II. like yourself. have the
right to hope that violence will
now come to an end" Mr..
Mendes-France told the Bey.
IF 1t takes more means to
handle the situation, the French
government would not hesitate
to send all necessary reinforce
rnentS."
Sharp Warning Given.
It was a sharp warning to
the Tunisians that France was
going to restore order in Tunisia
before moving very far in Civ
ing them internal sovereignty.
Already France has sent the first
contingent Of 5000 soldiers who
will be deployed Immediately in
Tunisia to suppress terrorists.
Heretofore the Bey has had
wide authority to issue DEGREES
and regulations because in theory
he is a supreme sovereign. In
practice. however, none of his
DEGREES could become effective
except when approved by q Sec
rotary general in his government
who was always a F'renchman.
Disturbances in Tunis have
been boiling up close to the civil
war level in some small sectors.
with uniformed fellagas-the
term given the teorrists-op-
Grating in small bands to>harass
French colonists and all others
opposed to granting immediate
independence to Tunisa.
The most recent serious op-
GRAFTON of the terrorists was the
assassination of French Col.
Rene de Benoit de Lapaillone,
commander of the Bey's guard.
Sore Spots Since War.
Both Tunis and Morocco have
been sore spots in French adj
ministration ever since the war
when their demands for indie
pendence were stepped up after
freedom was granted to Indo-
nesia and Libya.
The Premier's surprise visit
came on the heels of a cabinet
meeting yesterday in which he
was given wide authority to re-
store order to the terror-ridden
area and give it q measure of
Self-rule.
Details of the plan to establish
autonomy in the protectorate
were kept secret until they were
shown to the Bey.
At the same time the French
government frightened it's au-
thority over the protectorate by
installing q professional soldier
as resident general. The cabi-
net announced it had appointed
Gen. Pierre Georges Boyer de la
Tour du Moulin. 58-year-old
veteran of two world wars, to re-
place civilian, Pierre voizard.
Mr.. Mendes- Frances personal
action in flying to Tunisia was
all part of the vigorous effort
he has made to solve trouble
some French problems since he
became premier June 10.
AT that time he promised to
bring peace to Indo- China in 80
days or quit and thereafter to
try to end unrest in North Africa
and bring order to Frances fiscal
affairs
Chou Ends Moscow Visit