Word: destour
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...since 1934, when he was first clapped into a Sahara prison, he returned last June from exile in France, bringing with him a pact with France which took Tunisia a long stride toward democratic self-government. He found himself locked in a struggle for leadership of the Neo-Destour (New Constitution) Party, which he had founded...
...French ship poked its bow into the Gulf of Tunis, a small, dark-eyed man in red tarboosh and grey business suit stared at the distant mountains and sobbed nervously. Habib Bourguiba, frail, 51-year-old leader of Tunisia's Neo-Destour and father of Tunisian nationalism, was returning in triumph to his country. It was the peak of a lifetime of struggle, over ten years of it spent in exile or French prisons...
...fleet of fishing smacks and steamers erupted from the harbor, each bright with colored balloons and bunting, and from the upturned faces came cheers, whistles, shouts of "Long Live Bourguiba," and snatches of the Neo-Destour song: "We will die, we will die, but the country will live." Banners proclaimed: "Hail to Our Supreme Fighter." Bourguiba cried emotionally: "I'm coming back to a people that has found its soul...
Colonial officials sneered. "Bourguiba's crazy and sick," said one. "There's no telling what he'll do." Added another: "The Neo-Destour is a fascist movement. Today their line is cooperation with us. But soon they'll start getting rid of their enemies. First it will be the Vieux Destour (nationalist extremists), then the Jews, then the French. All this enthusiasm has been a victory for France's policy. But it must stop at internal autonomy...
...Rescue. But at this critical moment Edgar Faure had a trump card to play: Habib Bourguiba. That afternoon, obviously at Faure's invitation, the swart Neo-Destour leader stalked into the Hotel Matignon, the Premier's residence. After being closeted two hours with Faure, Bourguiba came out smiling broadly, and issued an optimistic statement. Much heartened, the Premiers of France and Tunisia got to work again, and at 1:25 a.m. gave out the joyful word: they had reached agreement. Almost choked with emotion, Premier Ben Amar said: "This is our wedding day." Said Premier Faure: "We must...