VOTING IN ALGERIA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28702, 27 September 1958, Page 13

VOTING IN ALGERIA

Battle Of Wits With Rebels

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) ALGIERS, Sept. 26. The French authorities and the Algerian insurgents have been waging a battle of wits over the voting cards to be used in the referendum on a new French Constitution. Under voting arrangements for the three-day referendum, which will open in Algeria today, each voter has been given two cards —a white card saying “Yes” to the proposed constitution 1 , and the other in purple saying “No.” Only one card will be used in the polling booths. This gave the insurgents an opportunity to discover how Moslems voted. They passed the word round that after the voting ends they will want to see white cards saying “Yes”—as proof that the holder used his “No” card. To counter this threat, the French authorities decided to broadcast a message saying Moslem voters would be entitled to take home a white card “as a souvenir.” Printing presses are due to work all night to make the extra white cards.

Having more than one “Yes” card will enable the voter, if he wishes, to support the Constitution and still have something to show the insurgents. The insurgents are expected to step up terrorist activity to try to impress the voters, and military authorities expect attempts at spectacular bomb attacks and commando raids.

Strict precautions have been taken by the French to prevent any intimidation. Some observers expect a majority of about 70 to 75 per cent, in Algeria. If approved, the Constitution will come into force on October 5. Until a new Parliament has been called, a President elected and a Government formed, General de Gaulle will have almost unlimited powers.

French citizens at home and in other overseas territories will cast their votes in the referendum on Sunday. Strong security measures will be taken throughout France, where anti-terrorist precautions are already strict. Police guarding official buildings and police stations carry submachine guns at the ready. In areas where North Africans are numerous they patrol in threes, one of whom invariably carries a sub-machine gun. Any North African on the streets at night is liable to be detained for an identity check. Police searched last night for five highly lethal time bombs which they fear Algerian terrorists may explode at any time.

Six of these dynamite-packed bombs—each capable of causing considerable damage, and small enough to be concealed under a coat—are known to have been r iade at terrorist “factories” in Paris, which the police have located.