Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-08
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that the slightest hitch in any
of these negotiations could in
definitely postpone the whole
deal.
Why did he say it?
"You know how it is" one Of
fetal confided. 'All these fellows
want to out-Mendes Mendes by
laying down dramatic headlines
for getting things done. 1t i'm
presses people"
Grabbed by Press
1t certainly impressed the
newSmen. Within a few hours
of Premier Faure's press con-
ference. September II had been
tagged in headlines as the Jour
Fatidique"-the fateful day. In
Morocco itself Nationalist ex-
tremiStS, whose orders could
touch off the most unholy kind
of fighting, have made it clear
that they look on the deadline
as very literal indeed.
The immediate effect of the
deadline was helpful to the
French. The original Hateful
day" on the Arab timetable was
August 20-the anniversary of
the deposition of the old sultan
by the French. That day passed
quietly in the big cities. Trouble
was confined to outlying villages
where acts of violence were
carried out against the French
population by Berber trihesmen
beyond control Of the NATIONAL
ist Arab leaders.
The time. however. may have
been dearly bought. The Ma
tionalist leaders have merely
agreed to postpone action from
August 20 to September IL.
What the French are now fac
ing is an organized uprising in
the big population centers
planned and carried out under
what passes for discipline among
the Arabs. In terms of danger
TO life and property-both Arab
and French-the new uprising,
If it comes off. would make the
trouble of August 20-25 look
like child's play.
Rebels Poorly Armed
Viewed in strictly military
terms-and there is a growing
tendency to reduce the North
African situation to a military
problem-there isn't too much
for the French to worry about.
Unlike the Tunisian rebels, the
Moroccans are not well armed.
Their weapons are pistols, an
occasional Smuggled tommy gun
and the Arab knife, To meet
organized action, the French
can produce convincing fire.
power of heavy machine guns,
artillery and tanks. The new
resident general. 1t. Gen. Pierre
Boyer de Latour. is reported
prepared to make full use of
his military force to put down
an uprising.
But the political price would
be staggering. If it happens the
chance of a negotiated COM
promise between Arab national
ism and French interests in
North Africa will be virtually
zero.
There is some hope the intelli-
gence reports may be exagger-
ated. 1t is argued that respon-
sible Arab leaders have much
more to gain at this point from
a settlement with the French
than from new blood bath. In
fact, it may be their last chance
Worsenlng of conditions in North
Africa could well mean overthrow
of the Faure government.
The prospect then would be
for the formation of a right-wing
coalition whose strong-arm colo
NAL policy would set back the
cause of Arab nationalism fol-
decades.
The French, furthermore, have
been theoretically engaged since
August Is in proving to Arab
firebrands that they are playing
a losing game. The Foreign Le-
gion has visited several tribes
who took part in massacre OF
French settlers at Oued ZEN
Boujad and Henifra. Arab
sources are complaining that re-
prisal action has already resulted
in death of some & (100 Arabs