De Gaulle May Quit Over Algeria Vote

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 9

De Gaulle May Quit Over Algeria Vote

(K.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) PARIS, January 2. While Algerian nationalist rebels ordered the mobilisation of Algeria’s Moslem masses to disrupt the forthcoming referendum on President de Gaulle’s Algerian policy, President de Gaulle hinted that if his policies were not solidly approved in the referendum, he would resign.

In a nation-wide radio and television address, General de Gaulle appealed for overwhelming approval of his plans to grant selfdetermination to Algeria.

He deplored the possibility of a “negative or indecisive” response to the January referendum and added: “For myself, you are well aware of what a blow it would be, preventing me from continuing my task.”

Army sources in Algiers said intercepted documents showed Moslem demonstrations and strikes were being prepared throughout Algeria for the threegay vote starting on January

French headquarters has prepared itself for what some officers fear may turn into the worst bloodbath in the history of the six-year-old rebellion, American Associated Press said. Reuters said the dominant impression left by General de Gaulle's speech in France and Algeria was that he is determined not to be influenced by agitation surrounding the changes he proposes in Algeria and that his suggestion that he would quit office if he did not win full support was intended to emphasise this.

The Algerian rebel “Premier," Mr Ferhat Abbas, appealed to the 9 million Moslems of Algeria last night to boycott the referendum. British United Press said. He asked them to reject the “prefabricated Algerian Algeria” promised by General de Gaulle and to wait for full independence, which, he said, was imminent. "Algerians: you have always known how to foil colonialist manoeuvres." he said. Officers and men of the French Mediterranean Fleet have been recalled from New Year leave for what are officially described as exercises to start on Wednesday, the newspaper “Paris-Jour” reported. It said the move was a precaution against a possible insurgent offensive on Algeria’s western border coinciding with the referendum. Tunisian Mediation Political observers believe President Habib Bourguiba. of Tunisia, will be prepared to negotiate with the Algerian rebels for moderation if France accepts

the de Gaulle plan for Algeria in the referendum. They base their opinion on a speech by President Bourguiba in Tunisia today strongly supporting President de Gaulle.

The de Gaulle plan would not solve the Algerian problem, he said in the speech, but he hoped that if President de Gaulle got the support he wanted, he would “turn towards negotiation.” President de Gaulle wanted to settle the Algerian question on the basis of self-determination coupled with the protection of the legitimate interests of the European minority. Political observers say their view of President Bourguiba's speech appears to be borne out by the presence in Paris of France's diplomatic representative in Tunis, Mr Gerard Raoul-

Duval. He has called on the Minister for Algeria, the Prime Minister. Mr Michel Debre, and President de Gaulle. The Government yesterday relieved Marshal Alphonse Juin, the highest-ranking soldier of France and an outspoken critic of President de Gaulles Algerian policies, of all his executive powers. The official journal published a decree that was first made on November 25 after Marshal Juin had publicly snubbed General de Gaulle at the Armistice Day ceremonies. Marshal Juin now has no further say in the country's defence. The decree modified the composition of the Superior Defence Council specifically to exclude, in future, marshals of France. Until now they have sat on it by automatic right.