New Negotiations With Algerian Rebels Likely

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 13

New Negotiations With Algerian Rebels Likely

> (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) ALGIERS, October 3. A new attempt to work out Algeria’s future in direct negotiations with the Moslem rebels is expected today, after a radio television address to the nation last night by President de Gaulle, the British United Press reported. In the address, President de Gaulle said he was ready to try again to seek a settlement of the Algerian

Reuter reported that Europeans in Algeria generally and the extreme right-wing Secret Army Organisation (0.A.5.) have not shown overnight the sharp reaction to President de Gaulle's speech expected by some observers.

The most serious Incident reported was in Oran, shortly after the local television transformer building was blown up, temporarily preventing the relaying of the broadcast.

Riot police guarding the building were injured by grenades thrown by Europeans from the windows of an apartmept house and several arrests" were made.

In the Algiers area, nightly scene of plastic bomb explosions, a total' of 14 bombs went off between 7 p.m. and midnight. Appeal to Leaders

In his speech. President de Gaulle appealed again to the Moslem insurgent leaders to co-operate in fixing the conditions of Algerian self-

determination and FrenchAlgerian co-operation. He said that, whatever bappened, a provisional power would be set up in Algeria with its own police foree to ‘lead the country to a decision.” Observers in Paris took this as an indication that a definite attempt would be made to organise a selfdetermination referendum in Algeria before the end of the year “We say to the Algerians that peace and the future of Algeria are at their disposal,” he said. “We apneal to the French in Algeria to stay with France, to give their frank support to the birth of the new Algeria, the one in which they will have their prooer place.” He said he abandoned last

Saturday the emergency powers he assumed during the April revolt in Algeria, but warned' he would not hesitate to use them again, if necessary. "They remain, in their full possible extent, the supreme guarantee for the country and the State,” he said. European Reaction First . European reaction has been one of relief that there seemed little new in the speech. Many had forecaet a sensational new move, even some predicting the announcement of the immediate installing of some kind of provisional government, in Algiers. Soon after the sabotaging of the Oran transmitter, the O.A.S. tried to broadcast on the same wavelength, but was effectively jammed. Before the President's

speech, almost all business- : men, shopkeepers, and cafe proprietors obeyed a call by the O.A.S. for a 30-mlnute strike. Nearly everything was closed in central Algiers, except the Contra! Post Office. Heavily armed troops and riot police stood by in Algiers in case of trouble during or after the strike. Key buildings and radio and television transmitters were heavily guarded. The troops made no move to open shops by force, as . they had done during previous strikes. As the strike ended and , shopkeepers rolled up their ; steel shutters again a violent ' storm broke over the city, > sending the strollers scurrying back to their Jobs. . At the Government-General building yesterday morning, officials found small paper tricolour flags scattered in the courtyard, with the printed slogan: “The O.A.S. stands against the TLJf. (Moslem insurgent National Liberation Front), against communism and against de Gaulle.” In Paris, police removed a blue flag, 13ft long and 10ft wide, bearing the initials O.AS. from the southern tower of Notre Dame Cathedral Twenty suspected leaders of the O.A.S. were arrested at the week-end, French officials said last night.