France and Algeria have been experiencing since May12 a series of dramatic and confused events coming as a challenge to the unity of the French nation and the very existence of the French Republic. These events have been regarded as the long overdue climax of a mounting tension in France's political situation in recent years, the chief underlying causes of which have been the built-in instability of successive French governments, France's continued inability to solve its overseas problems, more recently Algeria, and the accompanying economic difficulties for the nation.

2. The immediate cause precipitating the crisis was the violent reaction of the French population in Algeria to the prospect of a new French government about to be formed (after 28 days of cabinet crises) by the head of the M.R.P., Mr.Pflimlin, who proposed to pursue a relatively liberal policy in Algeria, possibly including a negotiated peace there. The Algiers coup was followed by several riots and demonstrations and by the formation of local committees of public safety (headed by members of the military forces, French settlers and rightist elements) that seized power from civil authorities and appealed for the formation of a French government of national safety under General de Gaulle.

3. The reaction in France to these events was swift. Mr.Pflimlin, having obtained the investiture vote for his new government, received from Parliament, through two impressive majority votes, 90-day special powers to take all necessary security measures in France, and subsequently the renewal of emergency powers to deal with the rebellion in Algeria. By taking various police measures against possible rightist agitation, the government was thus able to maintain its firm control over the situation in France, where conditions generally have remained calm and orderly.

4. Throughout the crisis, however, the chief enigma has been the role that General de Gaulle might suddenly or eventually play, particularly if the Pflimlin government were to fall or to be faced by active opposition from the armed forces in France and in Algeria. An ambiguous situation persisted as a result of the part played in Algeria by General Salan to whom the French government delegated its powers and authority to maintain order over the territory, but who apparently divided his loyalty paradoxically between the Paris government and the local dissident committees of public safety. The government appeared, however, anxious to restore normal contacts with Algeria by maintaining an appearance of legality in its relations with General Salan. It also announced its intention to seek parliamentary authority to strengthen the executive branch of government, a reform long advocated by deGaulle himself.

5. While the situation in France and Algeria is still subject to unpredictable developments, it appears that the Pflimlin government, through a series of courageous decisions, has been able at least for the time being to avoid what several observers feared: civil war in France, the fall of the Fourth Republic, and the formation of a new type of government, presumably under deGaulle, with unknown consequences both from the point of view of France's internal affairs (including the possible formation of a Popular Front Government as a counter-action from the Left) and from that of France's relations with the rest of the free world. Nevertheless, the failure of the Government in Paris to assert effectively its civil authority in Algeria is already a matter of some consequence.

6. While watching these developments with great concern, the United States, United Kingdom and other Western governments generally have been careful to abstain from any public judgment or intervention, lest they might thus play into the hands of extremists and compromise Mr.Pflimlin's chances. While a serious crisis for NATO is by no means impossible if the French situation were to deteriorate further, such a development is generally considered unlikely at this stage and would in any case not develop very suddenly. Military adventures inside Tunisia on the part of French armed forces though not immediate or likely are another possibility that should not be overlooked.