French Troops Recalled

Press, Volume C, Issue 29552, 29 June 1961, Page 13

French Troops Recalled

( N .Z.P-A .-Reuter—Copyright)

PARIS, June 28. President de Gaulle last night disclosed that he had ordered a divi-

sion of French troops to be brought back from Algeria because of the possibility of a European crisis later this year. At a garden party for members ot both Houses of Par teamen’ at the Elysee Patace, the President was quoted as saying that “the Algerian business must be settled before the end of the year because of the situation In Eurooe.”

The President’s calculated indiscretions. published later by the French News Agency, were taken to refer to Soviet intentions in Berlin, where French diplomats expect a trial of strength between East and Went

Tie link between an expected crisis over Berlin and General de GauHe’a intention ot settling the Algerian problem was emphasised m usually we«l informed quarters. They indicated that he is wri-ing to put French air bases at the disposal of American atom bombers. These bombers were withdrawn last year from French

air bases owing to a disagreement over control of United States atomic weapons on French soil. General de Gaulle was also quoted as indicating that peace talks with the Algerian insurgents would be resumed.

But he has already let it be understood that he will not go on talking indefinitely to the Algerian insurgents without some concrete agreement being reached, especially about the future status of the European minority. Yesterday he criticised the insurgent delegates at Evian, saying: “These delegates seem to have failed to underhand Algeria’s requirements and to be ignorant of what it means to create a strong and prosperous Algeria.” Talks are expected to resume next week but responsible officials doubt whether the insurgent leaders are really prepared to sign any agreement genuinely acceptable to France. General de Gaulle was quoted as saying yesterday that “one of the things we she’d keep in Algeria is Oran, because of

the French naval base which is part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation defence system. Polley Speeches President de Gaulle and his Prime Minister (Mr Michel Debre) are making policy speeches today on the prospects of negotiating a settlement with the Algerian insurgents. Mr Debre is to address the National Assembly and General de Gaulle will speak at Verdun at the start of a flve-day tour of Lorraine. British United Press reported that President de Gaulle met bis National Defence Committee yesterday to discuss French policy on the Berlin situation. No details of the discussion were disclosed after the meeting. But at a press conference afterwards a Foreign Office spokesman left reporters with the impression that France, together with the United States, Britain and West Germany, was planning to send a Note to Moscow as the next tbpkxnatic move. The spokesmen said there has been no kind of overture tor possible negotiations on Berlin between Russia and the Western Powers.