Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-20
French Skepticism Turns to Hope
As Nations Applaud AIqerio Plan
Inv CROSRY s. MOVES

y ~ OANOQANA NJs wv 40
European Correspondent Of The Star
sPARIS, Sept. 1s.-The hope
Of q miracle--if not the convic-
ton that 1t actually will hap
penis growing here.
SAT first there was no real
response in France to Presi-
dent Charles de Gaulle's bid
to end the Algerian war. With
the curious detachment that
the French can bring to poll
tics, most people judged 1t
simply as a performance. And
while the great majority APP
plauded the latest tour de
force Of the President, it has
been hard to believe that the
average Frenchman felt him.
self very deeply involved.
Today, this protective skep-
ticism Is beginning to give way
to hope. The response Of
Frances allies to Gen. de
Gaulle's formula for self de-
termination in Algeria is no
less gratifying for the fact that
it was prepared ahead of time.
Above all, the continued silence
OF Algerian rebel leaders In
Tpnis suggests that the end Of
O.. four-year nightmare could
be at hand.
In terms Of morale, the ef-
feet of the enthusiastic in
dorsement of President de
Gaulle's peace plan in Wash
ington and London can hardly
be exaggerated. Reinforced by
noises Of approval from neutral
Switzerland and neutralist
Sweden, France for the first
time in four years is back on
the side of the angels. Through !,
the years Of struggle. one of
the most agonizing features of
the war has been the sense Of
moral isolation in France.
Whatever else 1t may accom-
phsh, Gen. de Gaulle's pro-
poSals have swept away the
sea of doubts that lay deep in
the hearts of many Frenchmen.
Rebels In Jam
Beyond this. however, the
new peace offer undoubtedly
has placed the leaders of the
rebellion in a terrible jam.
Reports from Tunis today
speak of frantic series Of meet
tngs between the top command
Of the National Liberal Front
FLN and Tunisian President
Habib Bourguiba. Mohammed
Yazid, the official FIN observer
at the United Nations. is ex-
pected in Tunis with q complete
rundown on the reactions inside
the U. N. General Assembly,
where the Algerian question is
for early debate. A
full-f1edged meeting of Tuni-
sian, Moroccan and Algerian
leaders is expected to start
work on an answer to the
French proposals early next
week.
The French are pinning their
brightest hopes on the influence
Of Mr.. Bourguiba to produce a
positive" response to the de
Gaulle plan. Difficult as he
may be at times, the president
Of the new Tunisian republic
is a kind Of Arab that the
French believe they can get
along with. It is felt also that
he is extremely anxious to find
. way to end the Algerian war
and will make every effort not
70 let this chance 60 by. |.
Explosions Possible
The result, 1t is realized,
could be a new explosion in the
FIN leadership. There always
have been differences between
the moderate" political lead
ers such as Ferhat Abbas,
prime minister of the rebel
government in exile, and the (
hard-bitten former guerrilla
leaders led by Krim Belkacem,
minister of war. There is still
risk that in a showdown the
moderate elements may be
jettisoned and full control of ,
the rebellion taken over by the s
extremists.
The gamble is that the mod Il
crates. strengthened by Tunis- I
Ian and Moroccan backing, will
win out. No one goes so far as 4
to believe in the ultimate mir
acle-complete acceptance of |
Gen. de Gaulle's plan and an
cease fire. The best
that can reasonably be expected
Is a conditional answer aimed
at pinning down or perhaps
modifying the precise terms for
q political settlement Of the
fight for independence.
Even this would be hailed in
Paris as something Of a minor
Anything less than
outright rejection of the pro-
posals would leave the door