Committee for France and Algeria NewsLetters

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SPONSORS:
CliCFhFaOifRmDot 'JF ORSTER •B ULLETIN OF T•HE AM ERICAN COMMITTEE FO•R FR ANC•E AND •ALGERIA
DR. RICHARD SAl( •
COL. R. V. C. BODLEY
SAMUEL L. 8LUMENFELD
JAMES BURNHAM
GEORGE A. DAVIS
LEONARD FELDMAN
ElliS FREEMAN
DR. ALFRED KOGON 15 WEST 67 STREET, NEW YORK 23, N. Y.
F. R. MANFRINI
THOMAS MOLNAR
H. GREGORY THOMAS
JIM TUCK
Number 1
September, 1960
THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR FRANCE & ALGERIA POLITICAL ORGANIZATION FOR FRENCH ALGERIA
FORMED BY MOSLEM LEADER, SAID BOUALAM
The American Committee for France &Alger­
ia has been organized to explain to the American The creation of a popular Front for French
people the reasons wQy we, a group of American Algeria this summer indicates that Europeans and
citizens, believe that, in the interests of Moslems in Algeria are uniting behind the common
humanity and Western civilization, American pol­ cause of Integration, despite government opposi­
icy as well as that of our allies will be best tion. The Front, led by Said Boualam" Moslem
served by an Algeria integrated with France. vice president of the French National Assembly,
aims to enrol 1,000,000 Algerians behind the
The history of France and Algeria cannot Integrationist movement. Explaining in Carrefour
be obscured by false cries of ItAlgerian nat. (July 6) the reasons for forming the Front,
ionalism" on the one hand and "French colonial. Said Boualam has stated: "It appeared neeessary
ism" on the other. The extension of French and vital for us to remind the government, metro­
culture and concepts of individual liberty to politan France and the entire world that our
North Africa have resulted in a felicitous de­ wish remains the same: to be and to remain
velopment in Algeria of what was once a barren, Frenchmen."
inhospitable country. According to Aux Ecoutes a counterpart
organization has already been organized in
The importance of Algeria and indeed all Metropolitan France.
of North Africa to the defense of Western
~urope
cannot be underestimated. The military strategy
of the Soviet Union is directed to expansion liave that the terrorists have no right to im­
to the Atlantic Coast of Africa, if ROssible pose a dictatorship in Algeria over a population
through the Northern African littoral. If which, if anything, is multi-racial and multi­
successful, the NATO Alliance will be outflanked religious. We strongly believe that Algeria,
and the United cut off from its allies. as an integrated part of France, will be a land
~tates
Algerian France today remains the main block where all the inhabitants will have equal oppor­
to this Communist drive. tunity to grow, develop and fulfill themselves
within the context of a great humanist culture
These are the simple strategic facts in­ and political system, with enormous capacities
volved in the global struggle between and for economic growth.
~st
West. But what of the people of Algeria and
their future? De Gaulle has offered them three The facts and background of the whole
choices, and we believe that they will choose Algerian question are well set forth in Michael
Integration. The Algerian people have already K. Clark's enlightening history of the rebellion
in two referendums expressed their overwhelm­ "Algeria in Turmoil." Our members are urged to
ing desire to be integrated with France, and read this book and to bring the facts whenever
these demonstrations of loyalty indicate clearly possible to the attention of newspapers and
that the rebels do not have the popular magazines•.
support of the Algerian masses.
This bulletin will be sent to you from
As a group. the American Committee for time to time to keep you abreast of developments
France & Algeria will be dedicated to the task in Franoe and Algeria and provide you with facts
of informing the American public of the histor­ and materials for your information.
ical and present-day facts of the situation
and of the important issues involved. We be- Clifford Forster, Chairman
Bulletin of The American Committee for France &Algeria - Number 1, September. 1960 _ Page 2
THE PRESENT SITUATION IN FRANCE &ALGERIA support, the Army, and whatever means they can
employ to prevent both de Gaulle and the FLN
General de Gaulle1s news conference of from having their way. Their appeal in Metro­
September 5th represents a further step in the politan France is to French nationalism and pride
t
evolution of his Algerian policy. That policy which is a force not to be underestimated. The
which began in June 19)8 with a vocal accept­ aim of de Gaulle is to establish a separate
ance of the popular demand for Integration, Algerian government with strong links to France,
evolved suddenly in September 1959 into a pol­ links as yet undefined. His weapons are his
icy of self-determination for the Algerians. prestige and an Army which is reluctantly follow­
and has finally arrived at a policy of pre-de­ ing his orders. It is doubtful that de Gaulle's
termination in which the General has expressed solution will survive his own tenure in office.
his desire for an "Algerian Algeria" with strong
links to France. The September 5th statements In the coming weeks we shall probably see
confirm that de Gaulle intends to set up an the following maneuvers: De Gaulle will try to
Algerian government for the whole of Algeria. constitute his Algerian Algeria. He will en­
counter strong opposition from the Integration­
This policy has encountered great opposi­ ists. The FLN will try to rally the UN to its
tion in almost all quarters in France and Alm cause, continue to use terror and fear and
geria. Those among the leftists who have placed perhaps make good its threat to use Chinese
their faith in the FLN terrorists are enraged Communist 'volunteers.' Its hope is that inter­
because de Gaulle will not negotiate a peace national pressure as well as pressure from
immediately with the rebels. Those in the In­ leftists at home will force de Gaulle to nego­
tegrationist camp, of course, are bitter be­ tiate with them without a cease fire. As for
cause de Gaulle has betrayed them once more. the Integrationists, they will consolidate
their strength behind the Front for French Al­
The situation is therefore one of dead­ geria and other similar organizations so that
lock. The FLN will not lay down its arms and in the event of a referendum their voice will
cease its terror. Nor will the Integrationists be strong and united.
give up their position that Algeria is an inte­
gral part of the French Republic and therefore The outcome? It is likely that the three
forever French. These are the two positions positions will once more be reduced to two
which Algerians are willing to die for. But no when de Gaulle leaves the scene. When and how
one can become very passionate over de Gaulle'S de Gaulle leaves is open to conjecture, but
solution. The reason for this is quite simple. leave he must some day. The final battle will
De Gaulle's solution requires the same militar,y be between the Integrationists and the FLN.
sacrifices as would Integration, but in the end All those who believe in the cause of Integration
deprives Frenchmen of the fruits that would are readying themselves for the long struggle .
make that sacrifice worthwhile. In all re­ ahead
0
spects it is a policy which opposes human na­
ture too strongly to succeed.
BOOKS TO READ
However, before the final outcome, many
things can happen. There is alw8:Y's the We recommend that our members and friends
possibility of another insurrection in Algiers, read the following books on Algeria for an
and this time with much more support from understanding of the facts of the situation:
Metropolitan France. The Congo catastrophe
has awakened many Frenchmen who until now have ALGERIA IN TURMOIL by Michael Ko Clark
passively accepted de Gaulle's policy. They (Praeger)
are now worried lest a similar catastrophe ALGERIA: THE REALITIES by Germaine Tillion
befall Algeriao (Knopf)
There are therefore three positions on Mr. Clark was the New York Times corres­
Algeria, three aims, and three tactics. The pondent in Algeria.
aim o£ the FLN is to establish its sole author­ Mme. Tillion's book was praised by Albert
ity over all of Algeria. To achieve this it is Camus as being the book that best understood
using terror, the UN, and leftist sympathizers the country of his birth.
in France. The aim of the Integrationists is
to form one constitutional republic out of MEMBERSHIP: If you are interested
France and Algeria. Their weapons are popular in joining our Committee, write to the address
on the masthead
o
Number 2
---- -----._----­
KENNEDY AND ALGERIA
all the inhabitants of Algeria; the side of
The election of Sen. Kennedv to the Presi­ freedom in this case is the side of France who
dency brings '\-Irith it many doubts" and anxieties alone can guarantee the individual rights and
concerning our future policy toward Fr8.nce and freedoms of every inhabitant of Algeria--be he
Algeria. As is only too well remembered. Sen. Christian, Moslem or the context of the
Jew~-in
Kennedy, in 1957. made a speech in the sen~te French Republic. If Pres. Kennedy--in the name
advocating that the United States support the of freedom--decides to choose sides. this is
FLN rebels in their struggle against France in the side he is morally obligated to choose.
Algeria. The senator s contention was that
t t<Ie
should be on the side of FreedoPl" in this !lcol­ VJe of the Ar'lerican Cornrnittee consider Al­
!l
onial war against the French. I,Jeedless to say. geria the most important strategic area being
II
that speech provoked a great deal of criticism contested in the struggle bebTeen East and Uest.
here and abroad. The Senator had committed It would be wrong for us to think of the Alger­
~)ot,h
tl,e very grave sin of interfering in the internal ian rebellion in the simple terms of a colony
affairs an ally. Ci.nd. our ally let us kn.oi!J that fighting for its freedom. This is exactly what
the Senator had lost many friends for us ill the Soviet bloc wants us to think. Thl?l facts,
France. however. tell another ar.ci much more significant
story. In the first place, the VCl.st majority
Three years have passed since that speech, of the inhabitants of Jugeria want to remain
and we are not sure as to where the Presid€mt­ French. This has been demonstrated in the pop­
Elect stands on this question. During the elec­ ular uprising of Hay 1958, in the two overwhel­
t:i.on campaign, the Senator made several oblique mingly pro-French referendums that followed.
references to the war in Algeria, but in general and the formation of the Front fo~ French Al­
he exercised considerable restraint in discuss­ geria under the leadership of Said Boualam. Mos­
ing the matter. Vie, of the American Committee lem Vice-President of the French National As­
for France and Algeria, consider this a good sembly. JUI of these manifestations leave no
sign on the part of the Senator. l{e hope that as doubt as to what the inhabitants of .Ugeria want.
Fresident, he will follow the prudent policy of
the Eisenhower administration in regard to Al­ Thl?l rebellion is the work of a minority
geria: that is to meticulously avoid antagoni­ faction v,thich uses terrorism. extortion and mur­
zing France. He feel that this is a wise policy der to attain its dictatorial goal. This fac­
to follow for several important reasons: (1) the tion receives direct material aid from Egypt,
French themselves are r:reatly divided in their Tunisia and Morocco vlhich have granted the
sentiments and desires concerning the Algerian rebels military sanctuary on the borders of
problem; (2) General de Gaulle's policy has en­ Algeria. The interests of the Soviet Union in
countered such strong opposition that it is this rebellion are all compelling. They know
quite probable it will not be successfully car­ vThat the stakes are, and they have helped the
ried out; (3) the government that s1)cceeds De rebels T'lTith arms. 'Support in the UN, and by way
Gaulle will most likely be strongly pro-French of a huge subversive propaganda machine in
Algeria, and we should therefore avoid aliena­ France and the r,..lorlo. over. The big lie of the
ting it in advance; (L~) the war in Algeria is colonial war has been a great success, It is
believed by virtually everyone outside France
not a t!oolonial H war but a oivil '"ar in which
the very future of France is at stake. The "side including the most honorable anti-cotmlunist
of Freedom!! is not the side of the FLlr, a minor­ newspapers of the \cJest. One has yet to find a
i ty faction of Algerian ~1oslems bent on esta­ significant segment of world opinion v.rhich has
bli,:hing a Moscow-supported dictatorship over not been deceived by this big lie. ",n alarming
t.i .u",' (. '-'.8?
Bulletin of The American Committee for France &Algeria - Number 2. Novembe~ 1960 -aPge 2
. 'I
indi¢ation of how poorly equipped the ~.jest
nationalists identify their aims with those of
to fight the subversive propaganda war being
Hoscow and Peking. We must not be tricked into
waged by the Communists.
opening the way for a communist take over in
North Africa. Only a French Algeria can pre­
One might ask what is the Communist goal in vent such a take over. The people of Algeria,
Algeria? It is the same there as ever;'lwhere els,e. the vast majority who want to remain French,
conquest and domination. The first step ho,;rever must have our support and understanding.
'is obvious. Get the French out first. and then
take over the weak local government. This was THE PRESENT SITUATION IN FRANCE & ALGERIA
the plan in Indochina, where the French are now
out and the communists are now taking over piece­ On November 4th, General de Gaulle fur­
meal, and this is the plan for Tunisiat Horocco ther elaborated on his plan tv fon,~ ;,;~n ,ager­
and Algeria. Since the French have been driven ian .K_;pn~lic. But before he can do so he
out of Tunisia and Morocco, economic conditions must overcome several important obstacles.
have become so bad that only a leftist revolution First, the constitution must be amended. The
will be able to offer the masses any hope ·of eco­ French constitution, approved by an overwhelm­
nomic improvement. In Algeria, the communists ing majority in the 1958 referendum, states
hope to produce the same situation. that Algeria is an L,tegr;:;.l. n:::trt of the French
Republic. De Gaulle intends to circumvent
Algeria however. is strategically much more this legal obstacle by holding another referen­
f
irl1portant to the Communists than Indochina. dum which would give him special powers.
Should the FLN gain control over Algeria. and it
is a foregone conclusion that they will if Alger­ Other obstacles, hov.Jever. will be the
ia becomes independentt the Soviets will no doubt more difficult ones to overcome. The Army,
set up military bases and rocket launching sites for one, will be hard to control. However,
there with which to subdue Western Europe. As this can be accomplished by another purge of
fiI8.rechal Juin stated in a recent interview: "Al_ doubtful officers who might disobey the Gen­
geria constitutes the last \·Jestern anchor in er:al. The next obstacle--all of those French­
North Africa. \'l/ithout Algeria, the defense of men who want Algeria to remain French--vdll be
France, of Eurore and of the Atlantic world is hardest to overcome. There are too man;y
~he
inconceivable. If the Algerian territory were of'them. including such important military men
lost, NATO would be outflanked and its mission as Salan, Juin, l''lassu and statesmen like
compromised.1! Bidault, Soustelle, Bourges-Manoury, Lacoste,
Arrighi, Lagaillarde, Said Boualam. etc., and
But not only would the loss of Algeria to the General cannot anticipate what form their
Fr'ance be a great strategic disaster for the West. opposition will take. Those in metropolitan
but it would so gravely undermine the economic France can be somewhat controlled by the pa­
p()sition of France as to make that c:::lU.ntry all the lice, but those in Algeria are simply too
more ripe for a COI!lr.1unist victory. The less of numerous. and if the masses choose to over­
Algeria would mean the loss of oil for French in­ th:rmc'r the Gaullist regime in Algeria th.ey
dustry and the primary market for French goods. stand a good chance of succeeding.
It would mean the influx of at least two million
refugees into continental France which pro­ One might say that French Algeria, as­
\~ould
duce an crisis. Lastly, it would mean saulted from without by the FLN and by De
emplo~~ent
the total demoralization of the French Army and Gaulle from within, will be fighting the
with it the strongest elements in battle for its life within the next few weeks.
anti~communist
France. In other words, the loss of Algeria to Each day, as De Gaulle pushes French Algeria
France would mean' a catastr_o,Rhecompara.ble to the further and further back against the wall, the
French debacle of 1940. Such a debacle, of course, instinct for survival will gain strength among
would have its repercussions in the Western .world. its people. It is expected that an outbreak
ag13.~nst De Gaulle will be considerably more
The American Committee for l"l"ance & Algeria vehement-·tha:Q. it was against Phlimlin. It is
strongly urges Pres. Kennedy and the new admini­ also expected that De Gaulle ...ill strike back
strat~on to give France its complete support in wI ith~ ou. t Iierc.j' • The fini.~jil outcome 1 however,
the United Nations and in the military field. willd.~pend.on 'li!L~lt the Army decid.esto do.
F'r1.nce is fighting the IIhot war" against the In,May 1958 , the Arrnyjoined with the civilians
Communist assault of the and we are morally of Algeria at:ainst the I"aris regime. In 1960
~kst I
obligated to give her our support. The Arab the Army again will be in a position to de­
cide the political and military future of
(continued in next column) France and Algeria.
SPONSORS: It
CLI FFORD FORSTER BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR FRANCE AND ALGERIA
Chairman • •• • • • •
DR. RICHARD BAK
COL. R. V. C. BODLEY
SAMUEL L. BLUMENFELD
JAMES BURNHAM
GEORGE A. DAVIS
LEONARD FELDMAN
ELL IS FREEMAN
DR. ALFRED KOGON 15 WEST 67 STREET, NEW YORK 23, N. Y.
F. R. MANFRINI
THOMAS MOLNAR
H. GREGORY THOMAS
JIM TUCK
Number j January 1961
ALGERIA AND THE REFERENDUM

Although the vote in the recent referendum certain urban areas of Algeria is the result of
in France is open to many interpretations. there the intensive and highly organized work of FLN
is nothing equivocal about one particular aspect agents who under De Gaulle's liberal administra­
of ito The people of France and Algeria voted tion have found infiltration much easier than
for a French solution to the Algerian problem before. De Gaulle 8s amnesties have released
and not an FLN one in the form of a capitula­ thousands of potentially dangerous pro-FLN Mos­
tion. That is quite clear if one studies how lems who have merely returned to the Casbahs and
the issue was presented to the French people by taken up where they left off. The people living
the De Gaulle government in its campaign. The in these densely populated Moslem quarters are
referendum asked the French people whether or perhaps the easiest to manipulate by terrorist
not they were in favor of self-determination for methods. It therefore ought not to be any great
Algeria. The response was "yes." This means surprise that the FLN has suddenly--after seven
that the people of Algeria will be given the for­ years ~- found "popular support" in the Casbah.
mal opportunity to decide whether or not they
want to remain French or become independent. Certain American journalists, whose voca­
This of course. can only be made under bulary and point of view seem to have their ori­
decision~
fully peaceful conditions, and the French people fins in Moscow, have, however reported just the
have given De Gaulle the freedom to obtain that opposite to the American public. They are trying
peace in manner he sees necessary. to fool the American public into believing that
~hatever
the FLN has wide popular support in Algeria and
We, the members of the American Committee that France's battle is therefore futile. This
for France & Algeria. strongly believe that the is a blatant and vicious attempt to influence
people of Algeria will overwhelmingly choose public opinion in ways beneficial to Moscow and
Integration with France. Integration was their Cairo but entirely detrimental to our ally
rrhoice in May 1958 when they chose De Gaulle; France and the majority of the Algerian people.
Integration will once more be their choice when
they are asked to proclaim it at some future date. This is all part of a vast subversive effort
Our conviction is based on an extensive and deep on the part of the communist-Arab nationalist
study of the realities of the Algerian situation. coalition to divide the West and deprive the
These realities point to one simple and over­ free world of one of NATO's most strategic and
riding truth: the people of Alger~a know that vital areas: Algeria.
Integration with France means security and indi­
vidual freedom; they know that "independence" in It would be wise to give deep thought to
the hands of an FLN totalitarian Peopleis Re­ the words of Lenin strategist par excellence
g
public means expulsion. confiscation, massacre of the Bolshevik revolution, who said in 1923:
and revengeo No one knows this better than the
people of Algeria who for the last seven years "THE ROAD TO PARIS GOES THROUGH PEIPING AND
have been exposed to a reign of terror at the ALGIERS. WHEN WE SHALL BE IN ALGIERS, FRANCE
hands of the FLN unlike anything before in WILL FALL INTO OUR HANDS LIKE A RIPE FRUIT. II
history. The systematic use of murder. intimida­
tion, kidnapping. extortion and blackmail to It is perhaps the most tragic failure of
terrorize a whole people into submission has not our time that the West has refused to recognize
made the rebel cause popular with the majority. the strategic meaning that Algeria has in the
Communist drive for world domination. Algeria
The recent appearance of Moslem mobs carry­
is not only the key to North Africa and the Med­
ing the rebel flag and shouting rebel slogans in
iterranean; it is also the key to Western Europe.
(continued in next column)
Hullettn of the American Committee for France & Algeria ~ Number )9 January ;961 - Page 2
ALGERIA NATO AND THE SIGNS OF A COMING WAR Reports from Tunis and Casablanca lead one
& 9
to believe that the FLN will accept nothing
Most Americans are unaware that the Algerian short of a capitulation by France. If they ac­
Departments of the French Republic are covered by cept a compromise, it will not be on the essen­
the NATO agreement This means that should an tial point of but rather on the
o capitulation~
outside enemy launch an attack on Algeria we kind of capitulation that De Gaulle will be
p
would' be obliged to come to France s aid willing to accept: capitulation in stages, or
I 0
all at once. If it is a capitulation in stages.
This NATO protection which covers Algeria the FLN will work out the procedure so that no­
may be one reason why the Russians and the Chi­ thing will compromise its victory in any of the
nese communists have not as yet attempted to help stages.
the FLN stage a regular military invasion of Al­
geria from bases in Morocco and Tunisia An The gravest problem facing De Gaulle is how
Q
invasion of this sort could bring the United to withdraw the French Army from Algeria with­
direotly into the struggle it France re­ out causing serious disorder and rioting. There
Stat~
quested. But the communists. it seems, do not is talk that an Ilintermediary" force made up of
want to become involved in any struggle with the neutrals will in the wake of the French
r~llow
Uniteu States in Algeria at the presento Army and precede the arrival of the FLN forces.
But it is doubtful that a neutral force could
However. that situation may be changed in control the country in the event of wide-spread
the near future if De Gaulle carries out his in­ civil strife. In any event9 civil violence is
tention of up an independent Algeria. a certaintyo and that may preclude a withdrawal
se~ting
ot
This would remove Algeria from under the NATO the French Army altogether and a recognition
urn~
brella and perhaps free the communists for their on the part of De Gaulle that Ftance cannot.
invasiono This is by far the riskiest aspect of without provoking a chain of catastrophic events,
De Gaulleus policy from our point of view. and we abandon Algeria.
urge the American to be espeoially vi=
gove~pment
gilant" on Algeria during the coming months. We At the same time it is quite probabie that
think also that it might not be a bad idea for the opposition to De Gaulle will be reinforced
9 t
the American government to serve notice to the by any failure of his policy" If De. Gaulle
communists and Arab nationalists that we will not fails to bring an honorable peace within a rea­
tolerate an invasion of an independent Algeria sonable period of time, the pressure for him to
from'M'orocco or Tunisia under Russian and Chinese resign will be very strong.
auspiceso
In any case, the next few months will be
The increasing buildup of arms and materiel extremely dan~rous for France and Algeria.
through communist aid to the FLN in Marrocco and There are many forces at play and anything can
Tunisia is producing a highly exp16sive situa­ and most likely will happen.
tiorto Chinese "volunteers are now undergoing
11
training in Albania and former American airbases SOUSTELLE SPEAKS IN NEW YORK
9
in Moroc~o are being readied to accomodate Rus­
sian jets which may soon be used over the skies A capacity audience at Hunter College Au­
'Of Algeria. We urge our government to exeroise ditorium was treated to an engrossing talk by
the most astute intelligence over these movements Mr. Jacques Soust~lle during his recent visit
and not; find itself surprised and unprepared for to New York in December. Mr. Soustelle gave an
the war 'which is now being planned. incisive and informative lecture on the subver­
sive war and how it is being waged today the
TtIE PRESENT SITUATION IN FRANCE AND ALGERIA world over by the Communist Bloc and their Arab
nationalist allies9 who in turn are being
The January 8th referendum has given De coached by refugee Nazi war criminals in Cairo.
Gaulle a free hand to pursue his Algerian policy
in whate.er manner he sees fite He has suc­ There was a lively question and answer pe­
ceeded in overcoming the opposition in all quar= riod following the talk during which time Mr.
ters except one. the opposition of the rebel Soustelle ably explained his opposition to De
enemy itselfo It will now be seen whether or Gaulle and the present policy being pUrsued by
not De Gaulle oan exert any effective pressure the French government in Algeria. Mr. Soustelle
on the FLN to accept a compromise solution. was given a standing oy~tiono
(continued in next column)
Bulletin of the American Committee for France &Algeria - Number 3, January 1961 - Page :3
FLN = MOSCOW _ PEIPING AXIS COMMUNISTS INFILTRATE AMERICAN PRESS
For some Americans who still believe that Suzanne Labin, a French journalist, recent­
the FLN rebels have not seriously hitched their ly presented to the U.S~ Senate Committee on the
destiny to the Communist cause. here is a brief Judiciary a most informauve study on the tech­
chronology of events and statements made by niques of Soviet propaganda in which she revealed
leaders of the FLN: how the communist line often gets into the non­
communist preas:
Oct.. 17~ 19.58 = "When Algeria will acquire its "There are in the world few organs of the
independence. economic and cultural relations press. even when 'bourgeois in which the So­
p t
between communist China and our country will be viet apparatus has no intelligenc6e The main
developed.. " Ferhat Abbas task of auxiliaries in the press is to manipu­
Dec. 10, 19.58 - FLN delegation visits Peiping.. late the editor or, if that is not feaSible, the
Dec.. 18-, 1958 - Ferhat Abbas in Cairo: "We reportersg without the editor"s knowledge. Gen..
prefer to be free Algerian communists rather era.Inotion$ like lthis- paper is conservative'
than remain under foreign domination." or 'Catholic' are not at all sufficient any
Septo 21', 19.59 - FLN delegation visits Peiping.. lopger to recognize the policy it follows toward
Septa 27, 1960 - FLN delegation visits Peiping Moscow. Sometimes the managers themselves are
Oct. 2, 1960 - At Glen Cove, Krustchev re­ un~ware that their newspaper is 'permeated. i
ceives FLN delegation and declares "We are in "The most thoroughly infiltrated areas are
full accord.lI international pages and book and film reviews.
II
Octo 21, 1960 - Krim Belkacem announces in
Rabat that the USSR and Communist China are rea­ This revelation, of course~ makes one think
dy to help the FLN army. more deliberately on such as The New
ne~spapere
Oct. )D 1960 - Ferhat Abbas in Unita: "We York Times 'which are Bupposedto reflect conser­
Q
needed allies and we found them in Peiping and vative views, yet, on matters such as Algeriav
Moscow. " conSistently follow a line not far off from that
NO"fr. I, 1960 - Ferhat Abbas declares that the of the Daily Worker. For the last two years
t
different voyages of theFLN qelegations to China Thomas F. Brady's despatches on Algeria have
and the USSR since 19.58 have been crowned with unfailingly given the FLN bias to all news ema­
success "Our government has been recognized by nating from that area. Mr. Doty, too, has bent
0
the USSRo The support of the socialist camp is over backwards to be kind to the rebels at
hereafter acquired. 1I France's expense. Both the Times and the Tri­
bune are violently anti-colonial even to the
point of offending so loyal and inoffensive an
ally as Portugal. The reporters mentioned here
p
THE AMERICAN COMMI'l'TEEFORFRANCE &: ALGERIA as well as editorial writers on these newspapers
use the same cliche semantics which often obs­
This Committee. organized in February of cure the true facts of some of the situations
lut year is dedicated to informing the Amer­ they wri1:.e of. .
0
ican public ·01 the true .realities of the Alger­
ian rebellion.. Never in history have the facts The New York Post, too, has its pro-Arab
of a conrIict been so badly and systematically nationalists, such as Joseph Barry, despite the
distorted. American correspondents abroad seem fact that the Post is mostly read by Jews. Mr.
to rely almost entirely on the leftist press Barry went so far recently as to compare the
for their information.. This information finds Arabs in the Algiers Casbah to the Jews in the
its way into our newspapers. and is taken as "ob­ Warsaw Ghetto! Recently he made his debut in
jective" reporting" We of the Committee want to Commentary, which is sponsored by the conserva­
correct this situation. tive American Jewish Committee and read widely
by Jewish intellectuals. Mr. Barry's article
The Committee needs funds in order to do was a eulogy of the 121 left-wing Parisian intel­
its important work. We therefore appeal to all lectuals who condoned desertion from the French
of those who would defeat communism to contri­ Army. One wonders whose interests Mr. Barry is
bute to the Committee so that its program can really serving.
be successfully pursued. Please send all con­
tributions to Nor is Time Magazine immune. if one is to
American Committee for France &: Algeria believe James Burnham who. in a recent article,
1.5 West 67th Street drew attention to Time's pro-soviet line on
New York 2), N.Y. Portuguese Africa. Is t-lr. Luce being manipula_
ted? Memories of Whittaker Chambers" ••
FHA
CETODAY
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR FRANCE AND ALGERIA
ROOM 1012 • 175 FIfTH AVENUE • NEW YOlK 10, N. Y.
Dear Reader:
Here is a newsletter about France and about North Afrioa,
which may surprise you -- even shock you.
The point of view expressed in it, as you will immediately
see for yourself, is definitely a minority opinion. It goes·
counter to most of what you have been reading in the American
press and hearing and seeing on radio and television.
But the subject of France and North Africa is terribly
important -- not just for France or North Afripa, or even for
the free world, but for the United States and all of us. The
American national interest and the security of the United States
are desperately involved in events happening far away, as every­
one knows. But it is not so well-known how much North Africa _
and Algeria - can affect lives and destinies.
especiall~ ~ ~
Terrible mistakes are being made_-but there is still time to
avoid disaster..
All we ask of you is that you give this newsletter a decent
break by just reading it -- by reading it with an open mind,
even if it tends to upset things honestly believe.
yo~
I
Please remember that this newsletter has been written b.Y
Americans is being paid for by Americans , and is an honest
f
effort by these Americans to set things straight about a ver.1
important matter -- in the interest of the United States and of
plain. simple truth and justice.
This first issue is our initial effort. We are going to
improve the newsletter and make it brighter, easier to read. and
more informative as we go along"
Wetd like to send you a few issues as out. ,1£
theyco~e
you find anything in any of them that you. or that per­
~thers
suades you. and if you have the time to let us know about it,
please write.
In any case, pleMI :read.
Very sincerely yours,
SPONSORS:
CLIFfORD FORSTER, Chairman • SAMUEL L BlUMENFElD, Secretary-Treasurer
DR. RICHARD BAK • COLONEL It. V. C. aODLEY • JAMES aURNHAM • LtOtolARD fELDMAtol • Dit. EUIS FUEMAtol
DR. ALFRED KOGOtol • P. I. MANFRltoll • PROf. THOMAS MOLtolAR • PIOf. CHAllES RIEGER • H. GIEGORY THOMAS
CETODAY

PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR FRANCE AND ALGERIA
ROOM 1012 • 175 FIFTH AVENUE· NEW YORK 10, N. Y.
September 1961 Vol. 1 No.1
CONCENTRATION CAMP
FOR
FRENCHMEN
Last April, General de Gaulle took
advantage of the abortive and short­
lived military uprising to cloak himself
with the emergency powers of the French
Constitution. However, if the emergency
has ended, the powers continue, only now
they are being used to stifle the voice
of the opposition.
He has revived in modern form the
J,ettres de Cachet of his royalist pre­
decessors, condemning his opponents to
that Bastille known to
present-d~
Frenchmen as the concentration camp at
Thol.
Fortunately, Frenchmen are not so
easily silenced. They have gone under­
ground. taken to the maquis. Mimeo­
graphed bulletins and even handwritten
letters are keeping the opposition in­
formed and very much alive.
The American press cannot or will not
take cognizance of this "illegal" source
of news. We are being spoonfed with
information culled from official handouts. This is a picture of the sinister
The American public is sufficiently adult concentration camp at Thol (Ain depart­
and intelligent to merit better than this. ment) in the southeast of France. It
shows part of a watch.tower and the
FRANCE TODAY intends to tell what the barbed wire fence. In the true style
press has not told. of a concentration camp, the special
police carry machine.guns and use police­
If you are interested in being really dogs in patrolling the camp and night.
d~
informed on what is going on in France The camp is full of those who oppose de
and Algeria. we invite your subscription. Gaulle 'a dictatorial policies. Among them
are some newspapermen who were indiscreet
We suggest that you use the convenient enough to write what they knew and thought.
subscription blank on page three.
S P0 NS 0 RS :
CLI FFORD FORSTER, Chairman • SAMUEL L. BLUMENFELD, Secretary-Treasu rer
DR. RICHARD 8AK • COLONEL R. V. C. 80DLEY • JAMES 8URNHAM • LEONARD fELDMAN' DR. ELLIS FREEMAN
DR. ALfRED KOGON • f. R. MANFRINI • PROF. THOMAS MOLNAR· PROf. CHARLES RIEGER. H. GREGORY THOMAS
INSIDE ALGERIA pr~dominantly Moslem, manager of a
I3mall faetory which he struggles to
Does anyone, by chance, remember the keep going under the most adverse cir­
phony referendum of last January 8th': 'cumstances, who writes us:
which has since served as pretext for , "We have the im{>ression that the
de Gaulle's sellout of Algeria? That Metropolis (France), too happy not to
referendum, it can be said flatly, was have to look fora difficult solution,
false in every aspect, in its intent, in prefers to get drunk on grandiose pro­
the "wording' of, the text, the propaganda jects for the future. We are ,quite
that preceded the vote, the voteitself', aware here that France, if it wants to
the conditions under which it took, place safeguard its future must take its
and, lastly, the shameful use to Which responsibilities tod~J here in this
it has since been p~t by the French country. But we are persuaded that our
government. salvation will come from Algiers and
, Algeria and perhaps 'for a good part,
, I I
It ~ay be remembered that in onder to from the Moslems who do not desire, for
further a "yes" vote,.de Gaulle ,toU!reC,i the immense majority to separate from
Algeria in the weeks before the referen­ France. They say it,,"readlly to their
dum. A deli~r~te redeployment of troops friends and are ready to proclaim it
preceded his 'visit, enabling the FLN to publicly. France will finally under- .
infilttate the cities and provoke riots stand, since she wants very much to
and acts of blopdy viplence along his hold to easy things that it will be
rot).te. The evident ilJ-tention was to easier fo;r her to keep us, and Algeria
oreate a feeling of terror and inse'curity with us, than to latus go. We con­
among'those loyal to the idea of a French tinue during this time to work, knowing
Alg~ria, and in tha,t it was, let it be well that the Algeria of tomorrow,
said, partly su'ccessful. whichever. it may be, ·will have: to work
hard to be a really free and equal
That policy of redeployment,' accom­ partner of metropolitan France.
II
panied now by withdrawal of troops under
pretense of the Berlin crisis, has con­ This is a Frenchman born in Alge:
tinued with the same end in view. A ria, a real, "pieds noirs", with Al­
leftwing French weekly writes:, that the gerian-born'children, who speaks so
of
four members of a parliamentary committee eloquently to us of the future Al­
Who, it says, "could not be considered as geria, his homeland.
ultras" were 'in complete cigreement that ---------.--------­
••••••••••• 0 •• 1;10.
if the unilateral ceasefire, with its ac­
companying redeployment, cont,inued, there POLITICS BY MURDER
woulq. be a IIcoinplete dislocation of what
~ould subsist in Algeria of :french implan­ ~alah Ben Youssef, the newpapers
tation.1I reported recently. was killed by a
bullet behind the ear in a Frankfurt
But this is precisely what de Gaulle hotelroom where he had gone to see two
wants. He is seeking in very deliberate men recently arrived from Switzerland.
fashion to, force that implantation" It was later established that the two
'~French
into certain specified areas of Algeria in men carried Tunisian passports which
order, to facilitate his own plans of aban­ does and does not prove they were Tu_
donment.! ' nisians,
,Yet despite this open betrayal of the wbo was Salah Ben Youssef? The po­
I
cause o·f France in Algeria by the man who litical arch-eneMlf of Habib Bourguiba
considers himself another Louis XIV (L'Etat, who had him condemned to deat:h in ab­
c est Moi ! ), the people of Algeria French' sentia in 1957. presumably for having
I I
and alike, refuse to let themselves plotted the Tunisian presidentls assas­
¥~slems
be frightened, as witness this Algerian sination. Little did Youssef worry
correspondant. living in a seaport town about this death sentence for he was in
FRANCE TODAY September 1963. Page 2