A Matter of Pride

While British property and security disappeared in the flames of Egyptian nationalism last week (see above), alarm bells rang out for an ominous blaze in French territory 800 miles to the west. Militant nationalism, smoldering in the protectorate of Tunisia for some 50 of France's 71 years of sovereignty, had burst suddenly into open flame. Over the years, France had granted Tunisians more & more voice in their internal affairs in an effort to stave off Tunisian demands for independence. Over the years, Tunisia's nationalists, led by a dynamic yet reasonable and sternly anti-Communist Arab named Habib Bourguiba, 48, had remained dissatisfied. Two weeks ago, as a new French Resident-General arrived to exercise his country's sovereignty in Tunisia, the nationalist patience gave out. "It is not a question," grey-eyed Bourguiba told his people on that calm, sunny day in the arsenal town of Ferryville, "of throwing the French into the sea. But we must let them know that their presence here wounds our pride."

"Allez-y." The words were like a spark in dry tinder. Within a week, nationalist resentment had flashed into open rebellion; 130 Arabs were wounded in a clash with French police at Beja; 15 were hurt in another riot at Ferryville. The French acted promptly, arrested five nationalist leaders plus a handful of Communists, and sent Bourguiba himself into "exile" in a small village in the north.

The news of Bourguiba's arrest made matters worse. Some 55,000 members of Tunisia's militantly anti-Communist trade union went out on strike, followed by many workers of the Communists' own union. At Mateur, railhead for the French naval base city of Bizerte, a crowd of 2,000 angry demonstrators surged out of the yellow-walled native district to storm police headquarters. For 45 minutes, the French held firm, refusing to fire as the mob swarmed over their tanks, smashing ports and prying open the turrets. "I'm going to fire," a young tank captain shouted to his commanding officer. "I can no longer be responsible for the safety of my men." The commander at last relented. "Allez-y," he cried. The automatic rifles spat. The mob turned and ran, leaving six dead behind them.

In Sousse, 800 Arabs armed with sticks of dynamite battled police armed with tear gas. A jaunty French colonel, full-uniformed to campaign ribbons and kepi, attempted to argue with them. Two pistol shots rang out, a heavy club landed on the colonel's unhelmeted head, and when the skirmish was done, an Arab dagger was found plunged into his chest. The colonel walked to his jeep and died. Eight Arabs were killed and 20 wounded in the battle. At Porto Farina, a Tommy gun mowed down one gendarme from behind a cactus hedge. "I've been stationed here for five years," said one bewildered cop, "and I never thought I had an enemy."

"We Are Waiting." In Paris, the Tunisian trouble provided the first governmental test for France's untried Premier Edgar Faure. After heavy debate, he won a vote from the French Assembly in support of his plan to give Tunisia "neither a policy of abandonment nor a fist on the table." But the confidence was not reflected in Tunisia. "He uses vague language," said Habib Bourguiba, "so all the parties will find what they want. If there is no outside pressure, there will never be progress. The French colonists are always stronger than the French government. The agitation will keep on until world opinion interferes to stop this massacre." Yet Bourguiba still spoke mildly, demanding for the moment only "internal sovereignty," full of praise for French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman and denunciation of "extremist Arab forces causing such disastrous conditions" in Egypt.

The 144,000 Frenchmen who live in Tunisia and pluck its fruits have no desire whatever to cast off the protection of their home government. Their interests will forever clash with those of the 3,230,000 Tunisians among whom they live.

"What are you doing now?" TIME Correspondent Cranston Jones asked the Tunisian villagers during a lull in the fighting last week.

"We are waiting."

"And what are you waiting for?"

"Independence."

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