Man of Momentum

At 4 o'clock one morning last week, France's Premier Pierre Mendes-France drove through deserted Parisian streets to Le Bourget Airport. He was bound for another trouble spot--Tunis, the capital of strife-torn Tunisia. Having made a "cruel" peace in Indo-China because French colonialism had missed its opportunity there, he was determined that France should not make the same mistake in North Africa.

Six hours later Mendes rode through the heavily guarded streets of Tunis. In the vast crowd under the broiling sun women shouted, "Yo, yo, yo!"--the old Moslem chant of joy. When Mendes stepped down before the palace of the 72-year-old Bey, Sidi Mohammed el Amin, the Bey caused sugared almonds to be cast under the Frenchman's feet. Mendes read out his plan to give Tunisia the internal freedom and autonomy that its nationalists have long and ardently coveted, while safeguarding the rights of the French colons (settlers) and France's economic and strategic interests.

Key provisions of MendP:s' plan:

P:An all-Tunisian government with full jurisdiction over domestic affairs (France will keep control of foreign affairs and national defense). The French Resident General would become more of an adviser than a ruler.

P:A shake-up in the police in the direction of safeguarding the welfare of all Tunisian residents, including the 3,300,000 Arabs and Berbers as well as the 250,000 colons.

Mendes warned that this was the best he could offer, and that the nationalists had better accept it. He sternly spelled out the alternative to his generous offer: "Should it become necessary to resort to Draconia* measures to maintain public order, the government would regretfully undertake them." Last week 3,500 Tunisia-bound French troops embarked at Marseille, and this week 2,500 more are scheduled to follow.

Having delivered his plan and his warning, Mendes flew back to Paris.

Conversations `a deux. Pierre Mendes-France was a man traveling on momentum. He had no natural following in the Assembly, and had to exploit swiftly the prestige he won at Geneva. But even if he had not promised prompt action on Tunisia, some action would have been required by the situation. In the past month Tunisian terrorists have made 130 attacks on colons and pro-French compatriots, killing 93 victims, wounding 107.

Mendes' plan for Tunisia (which, if successful, he may try to adapt for Algeria and Morocco) emerged from ten days of intensive conferences. Mendes used his favorite method of conversations `a deux--knocking heads together. This time he set up two-man meetings between French officials and Arab representatives of the Neo-Destour (or Tunisian Nationalist) Party. His most useful collaborator was the Arab's No. 1 nationalist, the ascetic-looking, white-haired Habib Bourguiba, 51, exiled leader of the Neo-Destour. In an adroit move Mendes transferred Bourguiba from lonely sequestration on an island off the Brittany coast to a villa 125 miles from Paris.

This was still exile, but in his villa (guarded by blue-clad troops) Bourguiba was comfortable and could speak freely. He showed no hostility toward France. "Mendes-France represents the last chance for Franco-Tunisian friendship," Bourguiba said. "If Mendes-France fails, after him all will be finished."

Counterthreat. Mendes got Bourguiba's endorsement of his plan. Then, in a bitter five-hour fight, Mendes pushed his Tunisia plan through to cabinet approval. Two Gaullist members--Defense Minister Pierre Koenig and Minister for Tunisian and Moroccan Affairs Christian Fouchet --feared a "sellout" and threatened to resign. "If you resign," snapped Mendes, "I resign." That counterthreat brought the dissidents into line.

The road ahead may still be rough. Mendes needs approval by the Assembly, and by the Tunisians. The toughest opposition, however, may come from the colons, who think that giving an inch to native aspirations is dangerous, and from French functionaries in the protectorate--collectively a powerful group--for whom a Tunisian government would mean loss of jobs. To placate the colons, Mendes last week removed Resident General Pierre Voizard, whom the settlers regard as too soft, and appointed a new Resident, hard-bitten Lieutenant General Boyer de la Tour du Moulin, commander of French forces in Tunisia, who is popular with the colons.

Last week, in-a-hurry Mendes-France also:

P:Put the finishing touches on a comprehensive plan to make over the French economy--basically healthy but stagnant, timid and backward-looking--which he will present to the National Assembly this week. This may prove his toughest fight.

P:Planned to visit the U.S. in September, whether he remains Premier or not.

P:Sounded out France's 105 Socialists in the Assembly on joining his government. They have not belonged to any French government since 1951.

P:Told U.S. Ambassador C. Douglas Dillon that he regarded Molotov's new note on European problems as a mere trick, and would treat it accordingly.

* From Draco, 7th century B.C. Greek statesman, who set up a strict law code for Athens, including many death penalties.

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