Algerian Peace Talks Held Up

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 13

Algerian Peace Talks Held Up

(N Z.P.A.-Router— Copyright)

PARIS, June 11.

Peace talks with the Algerian rebels at Evian les Bains were being held up by the rebels’ claim that they speak for all the Moslems in Algeria, according to a French spokesman.

France maintains that the rebels represent only one of several Algerian tendencies, all of which must be consulted on Algeria’s future. The issue was revealed after yesterday's meeting. It was the same one which almost finished the talks before they began, said British United Press. The rebel Algerian pro-

visional Government refused to negotiate at the beginning of April when France said it would also meet with the Algerian National Movement, a minority group with some following among Moslems in France. The issue faded later and talks began at Evian. The chief Algerian delegate to the peace talks. Mr Belkacem Krim, yesterday rejected French proposals for military "enclaves" in an independent Algeria, reported Reuter. The Algerian delegation would never consent to France retaining such military “enclaves" as the big naval base of Mers-el-Kebir. in Western Algeria, he told a press conference. The Algerian spokesman said France wanted a “monster” state—amputated of four-fifths of its territory and dominated by military enclaves. A French spokesman said that the positions of the two sides are still "rather apart.” There is a three-day lull now before the next session on Tuesday to give both sides time to consider on what basis the discussions could proceed, he said.