Unsuccessful Bid For Algerian Unity

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29872, 12 July 1962, Page 11

Unsuccessful Bid For Algerian Unity

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) RABAT (Morocco), July 11. The dissident Algerian Vice-Premier, Mr Mohammed ben Bella, was this morning on his way to Oujda, after an apparently unsuccessful bid by his opponents to end the split in the nationalist leadership.

Talks between Mr ben Bella and the Algerian Minister of Information (Mr Mohammed Yazid) and the Minister of State (Mr Rabah Bitat) ended last night without any indication of agreement. Mr Yazid said he was returning to Algiers today. Mr ben Bella left for Oujda, about 370 miles northeast of Rabat, by road late last night. Observers believe he intends to rejoin his supporters in Algeria, particularly the heavily-armed Algerian Liberation Army troops.

They believe he intends leading them in his opposition movement against the Prime Minister, Mr ben Youssef ben Khedda, whom the A.LN accuses of "dictatorship’’ and of having "sabotaged the Algerian revolution.”

Plans in Oran The local Liberation Army commander in Oran has announced plans for a triumphant entry into the city by Mr ben Bella. Later the Vice-Premier will go on to Algiers. At the end of the two-day secret talks, Mr Yazid told reporters that "during our discussions with our brothers and colleagues in Rabat, we have had the feeling we worked for the reinforcement of national unity.” He said they had good reasons to believe that all Algerian leaders would have the "same positive and patriotic behaviour” in

abstaining from comments which could threaten the necessary national unity demanded by Algerians. Observers thought the statement’s guarded wording implied failure of the reconciliation attempt. The statement contained no reference to agreement on any of the issues on which the Algerian nationalists are deeply divided.

Date For Poll The Algerian Provisional Executive yesterday named August 12 as polling day for the election of a National Assembly. At the same time it declared an amnesty for all offences committed before last Tuesday—two days after the self-determination referendum. The Provisional Executive, which is responsible for running the country until then, is preoccupied with efforts to get the national economy going again. Months of violence and the exodus of Europeans have brought about a dramatic slump, illustrated by the fact that the circulation of banknotes has dropped to 1200 million new francs, compared with a normal level of 3500 million. Airline officials reported today, however, that Europeans were beginning to trickle back into the country from France, encouraged by the general calm that has prevailed since the July 1 referendum.