Early Start In Algerian Peace Talks Expected

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29745, 12 February 1962, Page 11

Early Start In Algerian Peace Talks Expected

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PARIS, February 10. President de Gaulle will begin the final and decisive phase of peace talks with the Algerian rebels “almost at once,” in spite of Right-wing extremist violence and Communist-backed strikes and riots, responsible Government sources said today, according to United Press International.

The French Communist Party, which led a bloody riot on Thursday night to protest against violence by the outlawed Secret Army Organisation (0.A.5.), defied President de Gaulle further by calling for a series of strikes and demonstrations on Monday because of “police violence.” The Left-wing group was spurred by the alleged O.A.S. kidnapping of 19-year-old Marc-Andre Schwartz, son of a prominent Left-wing leader and a cousin of the Prime Minister (Mr Michel Debre). Young Schwartz turned up safe and sound today and said he was kidnapped at gunpoint. The Government was cracking down on both the Rieht and the Left, U.P.I. said. The Interior Ministry announced it would ban all demonstrations on Monday and accused the Communists of throwing in 3000 trained shock troops as a weapon of subversion.

Reuter reported from Paris that a team of Algerian insurgent leaders arrived in Zurich, Switzerland, today amid reports that a top-level meeting was imminent with French officials. Strike in Paris

Yesterday, a one-hour strike—the first in an expected series of protests against the Secreit Army Organisation and police riot control methods—interrupted much of Paris's business and industry, the Associated Press reported.

Workers responded to the strike order by Communist, Socialist, and Christian unions after Friday night’s anti-Secret Army riot in which eight persons were killed and hundreds injured.

The Government said autopsies showed that six of the victims on Friday had

fractured skulls and had apparently been beaten to death, and the other two had been trampled. Police numbered 140 from their ranks among the injured, including 10 in a serious condition. The Director of the Paris Municipal Police (Mr Maurice Legay) told a press conference yesterday that the violence on Friday night was due to “organised and trained commando groups of 25 to 30 persons” each with a leader.

In some cases, he said, when tear gas grenades were tossed among the demonstrators, the commandos quickly picked them up and threw them back at the police “like well-trained soldiers.” Government Warning The French Government later warned that it would craek down severely on any future attempt to defy its ban on street demonstrations. The Interior Minister (Mr Roger Frey), addressing the nation over radio and television, recalled that the authorities had power to ban all demonstrations as a result of the decree of emergency published at the time of the generals’ revolt in Algiers last April.

“The Government has decided to forbid once and for all and will continue to forbid any demonstration in the streets, whoever the promoters and whatever the reasons,” Mr Frey said. He flatly blamed the Communist Party for Friday night’s battle, saying the Communists played on the democratic feelings of those who were sincerely against the Secret Army in order to lead them into conflict with the authorities.

Mr Frey said that investigation had shown that the police could be responsible only for one of the eight

deaths which occurred. AH the other victims were crushed in the crowd.

Many students joined yesterday’s strike, as did the actress, Brigitte Bardot, who recently refused to submit to a Secret Army demand /or funds.

The Paris subway system was seriously affected by the strike, and the suburban train service was also hindered. City and suburban buses were halted. Delicate Position

The Associated Press said that the rioting and Secret Army terrorism put the Government in a delicate position between the extreme Left and Right, while it is trying to conclude negotiations with the provisional government of the Algerian rebels. The Paris newspapers, "Figaro” and “Le Monde” said that Friday night’s demonstrators fell into a trap set by the Secret Army, which would like to overthrow the de Gaulle Government to keep Algeria under French control.

Reuter reported that the National Federation of the French Press protested against the seizure yesterday of Left-wing newspapers, and the Foreign Press Association protested against the plastic bomb attack on Friday night at the office of the Soviet News Agency Tass and similar attacks aimed against French and foreign journalists. Two Paris newspapers of the Left, “Humanite” and “Liberation,” appeared with black spaces instead of reports of Friday night’s clashes. Mill Agreement (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW DELHI, February 10 India and Russia signed an agreement yesterday for expansion. of the Soviet-built Bhilai steel mill—Russia’s biggest show piece outside the Soviet bloc.

The mill’s annual ingot capacity is expected to increase from 1,000,000 tons to 2,500,000 tons.