The Algeria Hurdle

To judge by statistics alone, the new French government of Socialist Guy Mollet was off to a sensational start, voted into power with the biggest plurality given to any Premier since 1947. The National Assembly elected Mollet by an impressive 420 to 71. "I have so many votes," said Mollet wryly, "I'd like to be able to save some for the next time."

And well he might. His actual political base in Parliament is so narrow that the first misstep is likely to send him tumbling. A huge chunk of supporting votes (150) came from the Communists, whose support Socialist Mollet disavowed. Another big batch came from enemies who felt that the least they could do for their country, while deciding how best to unseat Mollet, was to save France from the fate of a government coming into power solely because of Communist votes.

The Discontented. Mollet's coalition began crumbling in the first moments of spoils-dividing. Pierre Mendes-France, pouting over the electoral results that made Mollet and not himself the senior partner in their left-wing coalition, could not be Foreign Minister (because Good European Mollet mistrusts the man who killed EDC), and would not be Finance Minister (because Mendes opposes Socialist monetary doctrine). So Mendes accepted the office of Minister of State without Portfolio and went off into a vast chandeliered office, there (Socialists feared) to ponder fresh ways to get back to power. Mendes' newspaper L'Express groused: "This government does not correspond to the great hope aroused." And Catholic Commentator Franc,ois Mauriac grumbled: "Don't let them think they can count on me any more."

Of all the difficult hurdles a new French Premier must leap without laming himself, the first and foremost is Algeria. Campaigning, Mollet had promised quick action to end the violence and killing there. His first major pronouncement in office was that he would go to Algeria.

Mollet's choice of a new minister for Algeria suggested the line he hoped to follow. Leathery old (79) General Georges Catroux, Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor, has an unfortunate linkage in French minds with the French withdrawals from Syria, Lebanon and, in its first stages, the loss of Indo-China. When he accepted responsibility for Algeria last week, Catroux came out stoutly for a loosening of French authority over Algerians. "Algeria," said he, "cannot be treated like a French province. We must think of a statute that will give satisfaction to the Algerian personality. For example, a large administrative autonomy . . . with an equal share of rights and duties among all citizens."

Swelling Murmurs. Such talk fell like sparks on the tinder-dry tempers of Algeria's million French colons, who want no political equality with Arabs who outnumber them eight to one. For a year they had cold-shouldered Catroux's predecessor, Governor General Jacques Soustelle. But now, by comparison, Soustelle seemed a hero. Some 50,000 Europeans jammed the streets of Algiers to give him and Mme. Soustelle a bewilderingly touching sendoff. The colons were equally noisy in proclaiming their refusal to be governed by General Catroux.

The violence of their mood further unsettled Mollet's new regime. Mollet, though a mild-appearing ex-schoolmaster and party functionary, is a man of courage who escaped the Gestapo's hand in 1943. At the first reports of the angry murmurings against Catroux, Mollet announced steadfastly: "I will accompany General Catroux, and we will ride in the same car." Early this week, as the angry mutterings swelled, Catroux resigned. Mollet went off alone to Algiers, where he was greeted with a shower of rotten tomatoes as he laid a wreath at a monument to war dead.

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