Word: bella
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Alarmed by the growing wave of nationalization of French-owned property, the government of Charles de Gaulle last week demanded a new round of diplomatic talks with Algeria. France's complaint: Premier Ahmed ben Bella's headlong plunge into socialism is in serious violation of the 1962 Evian ac cords, which granted Algeria independence. At a National Assembly budget hearing, Finance Minister Valery Giscard d'Estaing hinted that French aid to Algeria might be slashed by amounts equal to "compensation that would be due French citizens for nationalizations or spoliations...
...employees out within ten minutes. Simultaneously, out in the provinces police swooped on L'Echo d'Oran and La Dépêche de Constantine. Thus last week, only days after formalizing his one-man, one-party rule (TIME, Sept. 20), Algerian Strongman Ahmed ben Bella seized his country's last three remaining French-owned newspapers. To Ben Bella they were dangerous relics of colonialism and tantalizing propaganda tools. Said he: "It is not enough to inform the masses. They must be politicized...
...seizures as violations of French-Algerian accords, under which nationalization of French property is permitted only if Algeria gives notice and arranges to pay fair compensation. But it will apparently not be the last move against France's dwindling stake in Algeria. In a nationwide speech, Ben Bella announced that all additional French-owned property would be nationalized. His regime has already handed over to peasants some hundreds of thousands of acres expropriated from Frenchmen who have left the country, and it is spending $40 million in French aid to compensate them. But Ben Bella's new statement...
Pushing on down the road to socialism, Ben Bella nationalized two of Algiers' hotels, the Aletti and Albert Premier, along with two restaurants, a biscuit bakery and a cinema. The 150-room Aletti was turned over to a "management committee" of four employees; all its funds were blocked, and the government even held deposits left by guests in the hotel safe...
Bolstered by a rubber-stamp election ratifying his unopposed candidacy for a five-year term as President, the Algerian leader also appointed a new, 15-member Cabinet of "qualified militants." Most of the ministers are distinguished by their loyalty to Ben Bella; five represent the army, which is run by shadowy No. 2 man Colonel Houari Boumedienne. At week's end Ben Bella prepared to journey to the U.S., where he plans to address the U.N. and, he hopes, make an aid-seeking side visit to President Kennedy...