1961-05-08 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL,

HISTORY IS NOT ON

HE

HIS SIDE

man not

[E is a haggard, unhappy-looking

always in the best of health, and the sadness of a marred career shows in his stern grey-bluc eyes.

Once, when his career and his conscience could still be reconciled, he was General de Gaulle's Delegate-General in strife-torn Algeria and commander-in-chief of the French Army there,

Now, from self-chosen exile

In Spain, he slips back furtively

and illegally into the hate-haze general staff, the up-and-coming that hangs heavy

Army officer was put at the dis

Over

The

deserts and the inte palms, topesul of the Minister of French

engineer revolt.

His huur is brief. All is quick-

I lost in Algiers, and he is in fight again.

Life is a lonely, rocky trail when history is not on your side. to the But at least it standu credit of General Raoul Salon, Legion of Honour and renegade, that he has never let discomfort or personal loss avert him from his fixed beliefs.

It is a strange irany for Salon that at the time of the Algerian generals revolt in May, 1958. it was he who first raised the ery of **L^3 Live General do Gaulle,"

He has an impassioned cry still. But now it is a bitter, din- Ulusioned

with Down Gaulle,"

Overseas Territories for service

In Indo-China.

He

served in that turbulent and with dis- theatre, netively truction, for almost ten years; by 1952

he had been appointed PROFILE

By Simon Kavanaugh

commander-in-chief of ground, air and naval forces in Inda- Chin

de

10

0

Quit

campaigns tosing its lustre. But If Salan was never the kind of general to inspire sympathy and personal devolion, he was never the man either to shirk what he thought

for the right Was French-Algerian cause,

He did nel have to remain long between the tree and the bark. Snon, with career and conselence for helplessly apar a thoroughly disillusioned Salon (and In public) was uttering

When he anolly quit, at the end of his term of duty, it was of public first whiff criticisin over his volley of up large garrisons in tying isolated strongpoints,

But it was as a seasoned very different erles.

experienced - with lifetime's warrior, usually

service behind in active command, that

assumed in November, 1950 the post of Commander of the 10th Military Region (Algiers) and Inter-Army Supreme Com- mander.

Quite suddenly, last year, Frenchmen realised that they must revise their Image of this rigid, disciplined servant of the 4th Republic steady military

im,

Angry

he

The highly-combustible situa on there was the least of the I blooded veteran's worries. Was still all part of the job bazooka was when a terrorist

his office in 1957, aimed to killing its adjulant.

For General Salan was seeing his duty differently. Led by his convictions, he was emerging an angry man from the shadows in which he had dwelt singe a two-year-old quarrel with do Grulle.

"France is in danger rally to Salon" read posters that appeared overnight in Paris.

raised and sta And, bands clenched against the intolerable Gaulle vision of de Gaulle's "Algerian equal to Algeria," 10 somehow sym- Situation in bolised all the weary billeruess of it all as he delivered himself of speeches that grew more and more ke epigrammatic bulle tins of hate.

He was the new champion of discontented Army men and the more reselionary of the million French sciliers farming five million fertile Algerian neres. He was leading champion of the "French Algeria" enise: the standard-bearer of such hodies the 40.000-strong National Rally of French Repatriates from North Africa and Overseas,

በኛ

And, though only by implica- tion, he was n possible candidate for the presidency,

must not be

Solan's position enisrepresented, so soon after gun-borrels have gleamed among the April blussum in Paris, and fearful eves have been raised towards French skies for "Les Parus,"

Disenchanterl and 61, he slipped back into Algeria as no man of destiny. He was one of a fourfold would-be Junta of rebellions Kunerals, Almost certainty. It Forms, he had played itle real part in directing from his Spanish exite the recent ominous uprising.

'They are nearer the truth who see him as a cool, cunning.

erey-black eminence behind the

movement: a bonding agent for the forces of anti-de Gaullery.

It was a decisive plunge from Meinl grace that projected this ageing, honoured general into this latest explosive situation. But it was not the first time that Raoul Salon has sat on a pow-

And even the following, May. when the big bang blasted de in power, Sulan was the extremely tight which he found hingelt between the tree and the French: any; the bark, as holding a hair-fine balance be tween Paris officialdom and the generals in revolt.

He had warned Paris of the imminent rising. When it came, he found himself holding full civil and military powers: stand ing beside Mussu on an Algerian balcony, and crying "Long live live French Long France. Algerin. Long live General de Goulle."

It was not comfortable to be thus lightly pinced, and to see

He had no sooner glimpsed the first dim outline of de Gaulle's liberal blueprint for Algeria than he knew he did not like it. Nor did de Gaulle like much befter Solan's wily interest in politics and the machinery of Algerian elections.

By the end of 1958 Salan had been booted swiftly upstairs to become Inspector General of the Army: a technical promotion, but to a post of much less in

Later he was made Ijuendo. Military Governor of Paris.

Bulletin by bulletin. Salan grew more bitter and more em- phalic In his opposition. Nobody had the right to give away unexpectedly Algeria, he said fast year on the settler behalf. "Nobody," by Implication, meant de Gaulle.

Anxiely

"Algeria is a part of France." he said, "and France calinot leave it, whoever may be al- fected."

appointments not to feel grave "We have had to many dis-

anxiety over the prospects. We say no.

There will be a massacre in- his fine service record of 23 comprehensible in Europe it the

Franch Army is from Algeria,"

MONDAY, MAY 8, 1961.

withdrawn

Then, one day, General Salan had to telephone his blonde wife Algiers villa, to tell at their her than be had been banned from reluming there.

Instead he fook a long taxi- ride across the border into Spain: as a holidaymaker, he

said at Arst. He did not answer whispers that he had really gone to collect copies of personal pepers he had left there, for use In evidence at the trial of rebel

leader Pierre Logaillarde.

Nor did he reply to repeated cables from the French Defence Minister, ordering him: "RC turn to Paris at once.*

He would be "disciplined" for this breach, it was said; and it was assumed widely, although never announced. that he had been removed from the active reserve list into retirement.

So, in Spain, in open dedance of cfficial summonses, Salan pald callers that calls and received could hardly

have indicated clearly his resolve to continue the fight against the French Government's plan for Algeria.

more

Negotiation, he says now, is crime against the unity of the nation. But, carefully, he svili net have it that he is a member of the "Provisional Government of French Algeria," reportedly set up in Geneva.

With his fellow rebel generals, before this newest revolt collapsed he was hard at it in Algiers persuading huge crowds that the rising would remain "Arm, oggressive and resolved.

'But, in France, much greater numbers of Frenchmen were not nearly so sure. Taking a wider look at emergent Africa, they saw the long-term sense of the with France, independent Algeria, associated that General de nulle wants. 13 was still "Long live de Gaulle" for them.

History is not on the side of General Raoul Satan.

Monday morning

with Mrs Chuang

IF you think you've got

a Monday morning feeling, just think of Mrs Chuang Mei-Ying of Peking, China.

COM-

Mrs Chuang lives in a mmunal centre of · 90,000 prople, enough to make a British suburb, But in Peking there are no

der-keg; and there was nothing gay little suburblas. This is sudden about the heavy Gallicity greyed for ever by the logic that got him there Chir mind, someone once said, is as dust-laden winds they call "Tau nimble as a 20-ton tank").

It all began pretty conten- tionally.

A native of Roque- course (Tarn), a young Salan

graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1910 and enlisted in the French Army the same year.

From sub-lieutenant, te was promoted as "anfe" by a succes-

Devil's breath."

the Montiny This, then, morning of Mrs Chuang.

At 6 am, near the Yung Ting Men the Gate of Ever- lasting

Peace Mrs Chuang waker in her

horne. which covers an area about the size

of two blankets.

It looks like a neglected doll's

Her children are

certainly

By happy. They thought I was the

DESMOND

funniest thing since whatever is Chinese for Donald Duck, when I played their gomes with them.

These le lovably chubby bundles of contented humanity

HACKETT laughed until tears rolled down

moves off to work along the dirt road to start work at seven,

courtyard, or a small room in

flowers.

Uheir fat red cheeks because recognised their tune and sang 1 Dolo of "Yankee Doodle Dandy."

The lives of teenage Master

in

They labelled even Dulles a Communist agent!

THIS ORGANISATION IS SHOCKING AMERICA

By STEVEN HAMILTON

THE late John Foster Dulles was 'a Com- munist agent." Milton Eisenhower was President Eisenhower's "superior and boss within the Communist Party.” Allen Dulles, head of America's Central Intelligence Birch members were campaign- ing to have certain teachers and Agency, is "the most protected and un-books banned.

"My business would be wreck- touchable supporter of Communism.

ed," said the man, if these people got on the phone and in Washington.”

kept on yelling that I Am A Communist because alve

Too ridiculous to be taken seriously? The man who holds these views--and publish- ed them in a book called "The Politician"-is being taken very seriously indeed in the United States. And though only in the United States could this happen, America's friends and enemies will soon be hearing a great deal about him.

He is Robert Welch, 61, son of a farmer, a one-time executive in a candy business, and founder of a group called the John Birch Society.

This ultra Right Wing group has been the subject of ques- 110013

--'----

money to the school."

Another activity i- warning people, by phone. that their

eghbours are Cominunists.

Welch,

Relieved

whose book,

Group." a secret organisation designed to stamp out "liberal- m" in the univerzity. Among his activities, he noted examples of "heresy" In the lectures- such as reference to Evolution- and forced the Baptist-control- led college to try five teachers on the charge.

ก

Guing to China in 1940 as missionary, he was caught by the outbreak of war and in 1942, will in China, was invirumental lu guiding

Colonel to safely Jimmy Doolittle, the American who led the first grent air raid "The on Tokyo.

"Too brash"

the

Politlelah," has been withdrawn from open circulation hopes to

100,000 mroll

members thin year. Already it is a political force whose membership con-

Joining the Air Force, ho tuins at least two Republican specialised in Intelligence work congressmen and many highly- which he did beltilantly, travel-

Dr well-known agan-

100 miles behind Jing pathisers, including a former Japanese lines to radio back in- Assistant Secretary of State. In formation about enemy targets Mississippi

and Louisianet and movements. backs the White racist groups

Later he was assigned to who oppose racial integration.

Ironically enough, an Ameri- base in North China, where his that can General, Major General commanding officer noted Edwin A. Walker, the man who he was, "o good officer, but commanded the Federal troops teo beagh, and may run into which were sent to Little Rock trouble." lo enforce integration, has now of his command been relieved in Germany pending an enquiry he has been into reports that "Indoctrinating" bis men

with John Birch propaganda.

Who was John Birch?

placed nt President Kentexly's which it has, ostensibly, no con- Press Conferences and the tar-section. It claims to have cells gel of criticism by some of in 35 states.

Welch runs the society most distinguished

with America's

an iron hand. A fanatic Journalists.

who has described democracy as “a perennial froud," he believes that the United States is "40 to C per cent Communist

Con- trolled," and thinks that income tax and social security laws are part of the Communist plan to take control of America.

Unfortunately, the John

Names secret

its priority At the moment,

of project is the Impeachment America's Chief Justice, Earl Warren, for treason. The Chief Justice Incurred the Soelety's wrath when the Supreme Court Birch Society is not as funny rided that a person who adyo- enter the forcible overthrow of

U it seems.

the United States government by Warnings by phone He was an authentle here, a

force could not be prosecuted without committing some overt act in pursuit of that objective.

Dedicated to rooting out Communian in America, the John Birch Society itself copies the classic techniques of under- cover Communismi.

Except for 21 handful of leaders, the names of the mem- bers are kept secret. Like the Communists, the members work in "celle" of 20 or 30 and pro- mole front" organisations with

Mrs Chunng's workshop is a

Jung and Miss Wang are strictly which the naked electric bulb

controlled by the coremune. Na frils in Its fight to beat

in the holding hands at midnight Moom. But there are a tree and the park, and certainly not

And there are slogans any of the 24 cinemas (where scarlet characters telling gul-meets-tractor sreins the ber: Work beller today. crease your cutput. Have pride

Night-life in Peking ends In your task.

nine, Romance Is a commune affair.

121

MONOTONY

In-

Her task te an eight-hour

main theme).

2

Havindesart

members are

an

officer

П

After the Japaness surrender line been he had by this awarded the Legion of Merit- he led patrol north to find out where the Chinese Communlats had got to. Bumping Lato b Red patrol, Birch argued violently with a Chinese ofeer who wanted to disarm him, was unlzed, shot and bayonettet 15 Umes. His body was thrown on a garbage heap.

missionary who became Amerlenn intelligence College student trained to report to their cell and who was shot and bayonet leader of any

ted to death by Chinese Com "Communist" in lectures. Then, munists. tendencies

Dead these past 16 years, his ot the by telephone, parents

Born in India of American students conduct an offensive missionary

was name is now the name of an parents, he Επ America and organisation whitch is disturb- against the lecturer, demanding educated

from graduated

Congress Georgia ing both

and the apologies and recantations.

the head of his Department of Justice and 19 One Kansas businessman was University at

"a matter of concern to the dissuaded from contributing

Always a zenlct, he organised, money gift to the University of Wichita because the local John In his senior year, a "Fellowship

и

clara.

2

** Sorry it's all coppers!"

CUSTOMS

at

INLAND REVENUE

To the Westerner this way of

alon of governments. By 1944 house whose owner have long monotony of beating out metal life may sound unendurable.

he kod risen to Brigadier- General, and by 1010 to General

of the Army (Field-Marshal).

Useful

service with North

tric components, sheets, winding wires into elec- or fitting tiny The washers.

grown beyond childish things.

The window frames are neatly Bled with paper squares. ΠΡΟΣ 18 earth, hardened by bared feet, The table is now, the chairs small wooden stools.

Mro Chung drawn water

1

Her food-made for her soup, a little rice, maybe dried fish, and come grean vegetable.

Her meat supply is eight

Early

fron the commmmal tap ounces a month. But there's African regiments equipped him beneath a towering

trebe lashings of green tea. with a useful working knowledge cause in Peking a tree grows in of Algerian conditions.

Mrs Chups has Since every courtyard, no matter how problems.

no family Commune workers then, Salan has never been able mail,

inke the children to the rem- raunal. nursery. She will not see them again for a week maybe even langer.

What Utile housework required is done for her. So is

to see how the French Army

could just pull out.

He saw how French soldiers,

and al- helped

had

BREAKFAST

Her breakfast La

*

rough

or

Ilut the Mrs Chuangs GTC proud, content ond, at times, happy.

No longer in her life enclosed by the four walls of her home. She is building the new China, HER HOPES

One day he may live in the modern blocks rising slowly on the outskirts of the city, and she is certain her children will have a better life in this country of 650 million people.

Certainly food is short,

But

hunger beller that starvation, ja sho

BHYS. Sho has endured starvation pad scen death

as well of engineers ministrators,

to broad roll enade from millet, fashion a real country out of an She may have some bulter left Grid wilderness,

ff her fox mtion has survived her washing. As I looked at the through lack of food.

Ho saw how, under colonistug the month. She certainly tattered, pathotle grey sheets, She will file, zaw, and and elvillaing influences, venera- drinks green tea, a palo liquid, gone for ever was the illusion of assemble and leat most of ber Tons of small settlers had hot wator only slightly ahining' while Chinese laundry family life because, she says, In Evolved and been born into a threatened by a dozen ten work.

10 years itra eum will shine on rooted way of French-Algerian Teaves. The water is boiled

Site may shop at the Con}< green harvests. Ang in ancient iite. Where else could they go7 | the courtyard.

munal store, or she may step out China 10 years is a tice-grain of Who would look after them f Her blue denim ault makes and go to the big department tline.

ther look like a plump British store, a thing of opulent splen- So, Mrs Smith, Mrs Jones, and

the Army loft?

human problem.

In

He saw a huge and vital engine driver. Her hair-do is dour after the whadowless local Mrs Robingun, just look around | either two plaits or a plain hob, ahops which sprar to be lean- and rejoice. What a beautiful

Loudon Express Service).

In 1047, geven years after ho Ifer lace knowa nothing but ing on each other to avoid fall day is Monday, wee sasigned to the colonial | coki water snil burch soap. the Ing down.

CHEQUE

DEREK FULLARTAL

***You can cancel the court action against the Acme Novelty Company, Hopkins ---they paid their tax!”

*This should be good.

US. Attorney General, Robert Kennedy.

DRINK

CURLE

Come

wes, Esket