PLANS FOR ALGERIA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 17

PLANS FOR ALGERIA

Referendum Soon (Rec. 8 p.m.) PARIS, Dec. 8. There were hostile cries in the National Assembly yesterday when the Prime Minister, Mr Michel Debre, launched the Government’s first frontal attack on opponents of General de Gaulle's Algeria programme. He told the Assembly the Government .was determined to move forward in Algeria without further delay by allowing the Algerians ,to run their affairs through responsible executive bodies. The purpose of the national referendum to be held throughout metropolitan and overseas France next month, he said, was to authorise the Government to set up the necessary organs of Government in Algeria at once, without waiting for the insurgent leaders in Tunis to cooperate It was not possible to fix the date or details of the eventual self-determination vote until peace had been restored. At the end of the debate, in which there will be no vote. President de Gaulle will preside over a full Cabinet meeting to approve the text of the draft bill to be put to the referendum and confirm the date of the popular vote, expected to be January 8. Mr Debre spoke of French achievements in Algeria since General de Gaulle returned to power in 1958. He said it was necessary to demonstrate first to Frenchmen but also to international opinion “the eminent value of the task we mean to accomplish.” When self-determination takes place, Mr Debre said, “the French authority will assure public order and watch over the voting. No pressure on the electorate will be tolerated, and no restraint will be placed on the presence of observers from the whole world.” The Prime Minister said it was not possible to fix the date or details of the eventual self-de-termination vote until peace had been restored, and there had been time for. passions to cool.