President Charles de Gaulle has decided that the best way to run France is by referendum, "the clearest, frankest, most democratic practice there is. It is becoming a French custom." It also had the advantage that the President could determine the need, the timing, and the phrasing of any plebiscite.
This week the people of France went to the polls to vote on two linked questions: i) approval of De Gaulle's peace agreement with the Algerian F.L.N., and 2) empowering De Gaulle to take all "necessary" measures relating to Algeria.
Each voter was issued pieces of paper already stamped "yes" and...