Word: mend
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Mendès warned that this was the best he could offer, and that the nationalists had better accept it. He sternly spelled out the alternative to his generous offer: "Should it become necessary to resort to Draconia* measures to maintain public order, the government would regretfully undertake them." Last week 3,500 Tunisia-bound French troops embarked at Marseille, and this week 2,500 more are scheduled to follow...
Having delivered his plan and his warning, Mendès flew back to Paris...
Conversations à deux. Pierre Mendès-France was a man traveling on momentum. He had no natural following in the Assembly, and had to exploit swiftly the prestige he won at Geneva. But even if he had not promised prompt action on Tunisia, some action would have been required by the situation. In the past month Tunisian terrorists have made 130 attacks on colons and pro-French compatriots, killing 93 victims, wounding...
...Mendès' plan for Tunisia (which, if successful, he may try to adapt for Algeria and Morocco) emerged from ten days of intensive conferences. Mendès used his favorite method of conversations à deux-knocking heads together. This time he set up two-man meetings between French officials and Arab representatives of the Neo-Destour (or Tunisian Nationalist) Party. His most useful collaborator was the Arab's No. 1 nationalist, the ascetic-looking, white-haired Habib Bourguiba, 51, exiled leader of the Neo-Destour. In an adroit move Mendès transferred Bourguiba from lonely sequestration...
This was still exile, but in his villa (guarded by blue-clad troops) Bourguiba was comfortable and could speak freely. He showed no hostility toward France. "Mendès-France represents the last chance for Franco-Tunisian friendship," Bourguiba said. "If Mendès-France fails, after him all will be finished...