NORTH AFRICA REFORMS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 13

NORTH AFRICA REFORMS

France Expedites Policy

rr/N Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) PARIS, October 19. The French Prime Minister (Mr haute) today pressed ahead with his policy of North African reforms after winning the National Assembly s backing on both Morocco and Algeria. The Cabinet discussed how the reforms should be applied as the DeSTu Minister, General Pierre Billotte, flew to Algeria for a lightning tour of the Constantine area, which has been the worst hit by the largescale armed rebellion in North Africa. Mr Faure is preparing to give urgent effect to administrative and economic reforms in Algeria, which is an integral part of France. He has suggested that before the end of the year the French Government should confer with the recognised leaders of both the French and Moslem communities in the troubled territory. In Morocco, sporadic bomb-throwing and arson continued yesterday while the country waited to see if Si Fathmi b ? n Slimane would accept an invitation from the French to form the protectorate’s first representative government

Ben Slimane said he would give his answer to the newly-formed Throne * n abat tomorrow morning. Military operations were slowed by r? ln y ester day and except in Casablanca and Agadir and some remote villages, the terrorist situation m Morocco seemed quieter. In eastern Algeria security troops scoured the countryside between Bone and Herbillon for a band of 100 rebels who attacked a bus on Monday, killing seven Euronean passengers and four of the soldiers escorting it. The fate of about 39 Moslem passengers in the vehicle is still not known in Algiers.