Final Talks On Algerian Peace

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 15

Final Talks On Algerian Peace

(N.ZJ’.A.-Reuter—Copyright) EVIAN (French Alps), March 7. French and Algerian insurgent negotiators will meet today to hammer out the final details of a cease-fire agreement to end the seven-year-old war in Algeria.

Armoured vehicles with heavy anti -aircraft machine guns moved into Evian last night and some 2500 riot police patrolled it to protect the negotiators from possible attacks by the Secret Army Organisation. An attack by the O.AS. could be made only at tremendous risk.

The exact time of the meeting at the Hotel du Parc has not been announced but it is not expected to start until after midday. Mr Louis Joxe, the French Minister for Algeria and chief negotiator, arrived last night with his delegation. A space 50 yards from the hotel entrance has been cleared for the landing of helicopters bringing the Algerian delegates over the border from Switzerland. The insurgents arrived in Geneva yesterday and went to secret Swiss headquarters Their leader is Mr Belkacem Krim, Deputy Prime Minister of the Tunis-based ‘‘Algerian Provisional Government.” Referendum Later The main purpose of the conference is to organise the interim period between the cease-fire and the referendum due to be held from three to six months later, in which 9.000.000 Moslems and 1.000,000 Europeans will decide whether they want Algeria to be independent. The initial stages of the conference, due to last a week or 10 days, are expected to be secret. They will end, it is hoped, in the signing of the agreement, announcement of which is expected to be made simultaneously in Paris and Tunis. Observers in Paris said one of the chief problems to be discussed was how to conduct the fight against the O.AS. after the cease-fire.

Other questions dealing with the interim period included the choice of members of the temporary executive to prepare and supervise the vote and the freeing of Algerian political prisoners. Both the French Cabinet and the Algerian insurgent “Parliament,” which met recently in Tripoli. Libya, have approved the basic agreement reached in the earlier French-Algerian talks. O.AS. has threatened two

Turin newspapers with reprisals unless they pay “fines” for their correspondents’ actions in Algeria. Menacing letters were turned over to police last night by ‘‘La Stamps” and “La Gazzetita del Popolo” reported the Associated Press. Correspondents for both daily papers had returned from Algiers, along with nine other Italian reporters, after the O.AS. had threatened them with death.

Mr Nioolas Caraciolo, a 30y ear-old Italian journalist representing “Il Gtomo,” of Milan, left Algiers by air last night for Paris on orders from his newspaper. He was last of the 12 Italian journalists covering the Algerian situation to leave

The Algerian correspondent for “La Stamps” was Giovannd Giovannini, the man taken by O.AS. agents from an Algiers hotel last weekend and given the ultimatum for all Italian journalists there to get out. The letters sent to the two newspapers were posted in a small town near Turin and signed by "OAS, Italian Division. Colonel J Dutheil, commandant of the northwest sector.”

The O.A.S told the Turin newspapers they must each pay 500.000 lire (about £275) as fines for their correapondents’ conduct in Algiers “Sympathy With Rebels"

“The press and propaganda service of this command," the letters said, “have ascertained that your newspaper sympathises with the Algerian rebels and inclines to the Left. “As a result, the martial tribunal of thia command has sentenced your newspaper to pay a fine of 500.000 lire. An emissary of this command will enter your office to pick up the sum wiffvin a mon*h of receipt at this letter He will show you a photocopy of this letter as proof of identity.

"Should you refuse to pay the fine, or should you go to the police, this command will take immediate measures of reprisal against your newspaper Long live French Algeria.” The bottom of the letter bore the litany: “Morocco, Tunisia, Indo-China to France. The Congo to Belgium. Suez to France and Great Britain. Goa to Portugal. West New Guinea to the Netherlands. Cuba to the United States. China to Chiang Kai-shek Katanga to Tshombe. Vai d'Aosta to France South Tyrol to Austria Istria, Dalmatia. Slovenia to Italy. Austria. Sudeten. Silesia. East Prussia, the Baltic countries to Gamany. White Russia to Poland. All Germany to the Germans. Slovakia to the Slovakians. Crotia to the Croatians. Hungary to the Magyars. Ukraine to the Ukrainians. Russia out of Europe." TDe British United Press said the letters were believed to be an answer to actions by the Italian Government in ordering all Italian border points and airports closed to known O A.S. members, and the expulsion of an O.AS. agent from Italy. In Algiers yesterday, foreign journalists formed a Press Association to meet threats by the OAS to their jrofesaion. Reuter reported. Dntlu in Algeria Twenty-four persons were killed and 32 wounded in acts of violence tbrourfiout Algeria yesterday, military officials said early today In Paris, O.AS. gunmen ambushed a French Army staff car in a Paris suburb, wounding a lieutenantcolonel and a major. Both men. were bit in the arms by sub-mach:negun bullets.