France: Without Alternatives

In his New Year's address to the nation last week, President Charles de Gaulle once again promised peace in Algeria. Within the year, he hinted, France would be cooperating with "a sovereign and independent Algerian state."

For his listeners, it was an old story. A year ago this month, 75% of the electorate of Metropolitan France thunderously voted yes to De Gaulle's plan of granting self-determination to Algeria. But, today, Algeria has neither peace nor self-determination. Worse, France itself resounds to the exploding bombs of the Secret Army Organization, which is dedicated to keeping Algeria French.

The Algerian question both...

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