Algeria: The Bargainers

France and the Algerian rebel F.L.N. last week gingerly sidled toward the subject of peace.

In Tunis, the "provisional" F.L.N. government headed by Premier Ferhat Abbas made the first offer. Claiming that the massive Moslem boycott of De Gaulle's referendum in Algeria proved the "obvious authority" of the F.L.N., Ferhat Abbas announced that he was ready "to begin negotiations with the French government" for the long-awaited solution to the Algerian problem.

France's reply was oblique and guarded. Information Minister Louis Terrenoire wordily took note of "the expression of an apparently more favorable state of mind toward eventual peaceful contacts" between...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!