Moderation Needs Success

All one snowy morning last week, squads of workers swept the apron of Paris' Orly Field. They swept to such purpose that when his Super-Constellation taxied up that afternoon, His Majesty the Sultan of Morocco could step out in white pointed slippers on dry ground. Nothing was too good for Sidi Mohammed ben Youssef, the pro-Nationalist monarch who, a prisoner of the French in Madagascar exile seven months ago, now returned in triumph to open negotiations for Moroccan independence. Welcomed at the airport by Premier Guy Mollet and a platoon of ministers, the Sultan was borne off with his wives to a tapestried villa, and launched on a round of banquets and Parisian splendors.

With trouble bursting all over Africa, the French are eager to sign Ben Youssef and his Nationalist advisers to a moderate settlement in Morocco. It may take some time and some cosseting, but they have hopes. The Moroccans want a declaration of independence right away, with recognition of their right to raise an army, appoint ambassadors, run their economy. Though willing to go along, the French balk at tossing over their 1912 protectorate treaty without something else to replace it first. They want settlers' rights spelled out, and "interdependence" affirmed through some kind of North African Federation.

Moderation needs a success in North Africa. At least 88 people died in North Africa rioting last week.

P:In Morocco, "Black Crescent" terrorists went into action after a three-month lull, tossing bombs that injured 18 in Rabat, Marrakech and Casablanca.

P:In Tunisia, where the ruling Neo-Destour moderates cracked down on dissident extremists last month, terrorists were operating so freely last week that French Commissioner Roger Seydoux wondered publicly whether Tunisians are up to the job of keeping the peace.

P:In Algeria, moderates were not to be found, and the only sounds Nationalists made were gunshots. Touring the Aures mountain battleground, new Governor General and Minister Resident Robert Lacoste met Foreign Legionnaires who had just fought their way out of an ambush. In one of the bitterest battles of Algeria's little, undeclared war, eight Legionnaires and 48 rebels had died.

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