ALGERIA: Partition or Else

Intent on making lively the arrival of France's Premier Michel Debré in Algeria, six men sat around a table in an Algerian village tinkering with the timing device of a bomb. The bomb exploded and the six were blown to bits.

The situation in Algeria was not that explosive but nearly as uncertain. Debré came to sound out the political climate before next month's cantonal elections, in which De Gaulle hopes to see loyal Moslems elected who can discuss the promised "self-determination" referendum on Algeria's future. But before he returned to Paris, Debré took to the radio to make bluntly clear what has long been implied in De Gaulle's much-mooted plans for Algeria.

The referendum will offer three alternatives: integration with France, autonomous association with France (which De Gaulle hopes for), or total independence. Asked Debré: "In the incredible, disastrous hypothesis that a majority in Algeria determines for secession, what happens?" He answered himself: "There is not and there will not be abandonment. One cannot remove, one does not remove from those Algerians who want to live freely as French . . . either the possibility of French life or the quality of being French citizens. The truth is, secession really means partition. The most sacred principles do not permit it to be otherwise."

In effect, Debré was attempting to assure Algeria's Europeans and the loyal Moslems who side with them that they would not be left at the mercy of the F.L.N. if they voted to remain with France and lost. To Moslems who might vote for outright independence, it was a warning that their victory would not give them the whole cake; the oil regions and rich farm areas would in all likelihood stay in French hands, leaving the apostles of independence only the Moslem-dominated areas, which are mostly desert, mountains, and arid land.

In Tunisia 10,000 Algerian fellaghas have been training for months in full view of the French army across the border. Come spring, the French fear, the fellaghas will be moving across the border with the express intent of disrupting the elections. Last week the F.L.N. announced that it would begin accepting "foreign volunteers." The Red Chinese have a standing offer to supply the Algerian rebels with "technicians" and money, but in actuality, it is unlikely that the F.L.N. expects to accept more than token contributions. More likely, the rebels, who have apparently given up hope of extracting concessions from De Gaulle, are hoping that the "volunteer" issue can "internationalize" the Algerian rebellion and force other nations to deal with the F.L.N. as a genuine government.