Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-21


Officially the Foreign Off
Struggling statement of yester-
day which implied simply that
the whole thing was a lot of
foolishness and that any foreign
government which took it seri-
ously ought to have its head
examined. Since then, however,
the fact that a number of
foreign governments - among
them Tunisia and Morocco
have eagerly recognized the
rebel government has cast a
more serious complexion on the
whole affair.
The announcement itself
came as no real surprise since
plans for the new government
were laid several months ago.
Its timing is equally logical,
coming at the beginning of
the current session of the
United Nations General AS
sembly where Algerian nation
alists maintain an active lobby,
and before the Algerian re-
ferendum in which a large
majority of Moslems are ex-
pected to vote in favor of a
continuing association with
France.
Certainly the position of the
French government is legally
strong. The rebel government
does not control any def1nable
portion of the country it claims
to represent. Nor has it ever
done so. And while the in
gluence and power of the Ma
tional Liberation Front is I'M
questionably great in Algeria,
the new group can hardly put
Forward a convincing claim to
speak for the majority of the
country's population.
Correct Under Law
On strictly technical grounds,
the French government is i'm
peccably correct in maintaining
that there is no provision under
international law for formation
of governments in exile in time
of peace.
All this, however, does not
change the very sticky fact that
the maneuver has received
recognition and that as a re-
suit any settlement of the Al
gerian conflict is likely to be
,even more difficult than 1t was.
. AT this point no one can say
with certainty what the reac-
ton in France will be to the
action taken by Tunisia and
Morocco. Gen. de Gaulle him
:self is off on a two-day tour of
sthe major French cities. drum
inning up votes for his new con-
:stitution. 1t may be signifi-
cant, however, that the reaction
:of some portions of even the
Liberal press has been violent.
Says Combat:
To continue French assist
ance to governments who
CHOOSE to support the Cairo
group which proclaims itself at
war with France is to play the
role of an incurable dupe."
Stress Friendship
While Spokesman in Rabat
and Tunis are playing down
the importance of the situa-
ton and stressing that the re-
lationship of their governments
with France remains as friend
~ as ever, the mood here seems
somewhat less charitable. The
original Foreign Office state
ment carried a hidden threat
of break in diplomatic rela-
tons with any government
I. which recognized the Cairo
Z: group. And while things may
; not be pushed that far, other
: measures which could be taken
/: are not likely to improve rela-
f: tons between France and its
former North African protec-
: torates.
/: Time for Negotiation
{: What makes this particularly
{: unfortunate at this time is the
/. hope cherished by many lio-
/: erals in France that the mo-
4: ment for a major effort at
negotiation in Algeria will
come Immediately after the
4, referendum there. And in these
/. negotiations it was expected
4: that the moderate govern
ments of Tunisia and Morocco
could play a vital part.