Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-18

organization has been appar-
ent. The Algiers branch led by
Mr.. Susini represented what
might be called the moderate"
wing of the organization, made
up mostly of native European
Agerians, whose stake in the
future Of the country is great.
The other wing, conferred in
Oran, Is led by such military
deserters as ex-Gen. Gardy and
excel. GODDARD, whose attitude
in the past has been far more
uncompromising than that Of
their civilian counterparts.
Rather ominously, the Oran
radio last night refused to fol-
low the lead Of Algiers. News
Of an agreement, it said, must
be taken cautiously" In Oran
Secret Army leaders were re-
serving their decision. And,
meanwhile, Oran radio said,
I'VE reserve all means Of action
for the realization of our
program"
Even if the Oran leadership
refuses to respect the new
agreement, however, it is felt
here that the real menace Of
the Secret Army in Algeria is
virtually ended. The few re-
naming criminals" Gen. De
Gaulle referred to undoubtedly
can still cause trouble. But the
widespread campaign of ter
rorism and destruction, which
has depended on almost uni
versal civilian support of the
movement now seems out of
the question.
At the same time, the agree
ment raises a number of tricky
questions for the French gov
eminent itself.
Serious Dilemma
Although government Off
Gals have made no secret Of
their hopeSsthat an agreement
would be reached, promise of
an amnesty confronts the
French with a serious dilemma
so far as their own former mill
itary personnel in the ranks Of
the Secret Army are concerned.
Under the terms of the Evian
agreements, France retains
formal sovereignty in Algeria
until after a referendum on
independence scheduled for July
i. Meanwhile, 1t also presum-
ably retains the right to ar
rest and punish French desert
ers Of the Secret Army, several
of whom already have been
tried in absentia in France and
condemned to death for their
crimes.
Whether or not this right
will be pressed, however, re-
mains to be seen. Ultimately
the slightly weird possibility
arises Of these fugitives from
French justice being offered
asylum by independent Algeria
under the terms Of the blanket
amnesty.
Amnesty at Issue
implications of this problem
also have a bearing on the fate
Of former Gems. Salan and
Jouhaud, who are already in
French custody condemned for
their activity ir the Secret
Army. Gen. Jouhaud has been
condemned to death and will
be executed unless reprieved by
President de Gualle. Gen. Salan,
former Secret Army commander
in chief, received a life sent
ence and faces the possibility
of a retrial for subversive &C
tivities carried on since his
capture. -.-r
Amnesty granted by the FIN
to other members of the ter
rorist organization does not, of
course, directly affect the fate
of these former French gen.
erals. But the spirit of the
AlgierS agreements is certain to
bring about strong pressure for
leniency in all other cases in
volving Secret Army activity.
There remains finally one
other imponderable factor in
the present situation. The
conspiracy in Algeria, Of which
the Secret Army represented
the militant local branch, had
detectives, in some cases, that
went far beyond the borders
of Algeria itself.
For many Of the top leaders,
the real objective was the over
throw Of the De Gaulle govern
ment and the establishment in
France itself of a military die
tatorShip under cover of right
wing civilian leadership. To q
large extent, the crisis in Al
geria was simply exploited as
a pretext and means of at
tanning this larger aim.
Those who took part in this
conspiracy included, at one
time. Mr., Susini himself and
most of the military leadership
of the Secret Army in Algeria.
1t has included also such fig
ures as Jacques Soustelle and
Georges Bidault, along with
many others whose aim was to
prepare the ground in France
for a successful coup d'etat.
Whether this conspiracy is
new at an end will take time
to discover. Certainly a num-
Der Of right-wing leaders are
making no secret of their
chagrin at the sudden collapse
of resistance in Algeria. This
only serves to reinforce the
relief and hope with which the
overwhelming mass of French