Discussion on Algerian Independence and Military

Did you agree to support the entry of those

serving in the French army into the army

of the National Liberation Front?

No, that was not brought up.

It is in the Evian Accords.

Those who were in it?

Among the main points.

No, it was, it was an issue, and—

France was keen for it to be included in the agreement so that it could ensure

its continued presence, meaning if it left through the door, it would come in through the windows, as they say.

This plan failed.

How did it fail? I will give you the details.

That's it, they had said during the period between

the cessation of fighting

and the referendum, this was a period, meaning, I don't know,

until July, there would be a force,

a local force, they called it “forces locales”—

No, six ranks.

Algerian,

that would be in favor of

the, the, the, in favor of the government

that was, there was a quasi-government within,

within Algeria, not far from Algeria, in—

No, excuse me, here is a very serious point and a very important point.

Go ahead.

When, at the beginning of Alge— Algeria gaining

independence in the year 1962, the number

Algerians involved in joining the

French army numbered over 250,000 Algerians.

Yes, yes.

France stipulated in the Evian Accords, or imposed, that these people

who wished to could join the Algerian army

in the independent state without France objecting.

This was the greatest organized infiltration

of the Algerian National Army through

uh, uh, Algerians who were French at the same time

or fought alongside France.

And they were officers.

They were officers, and I have names and dates. I’ll go into detail with you,

because they held senior positions in Algeria.

I am aware of this, and without—without its details,

it is impossible to delve into it, because what concerns me is

the Algerian public good. This particular point was among

the main reasons for the disagreement between Boumediene and me.