First of all, there was the much-bruited connection between the O.A.S. and the C.I.A., which remains only partially explained to this day. According to the story which seems to have originated with Susini, though he does not mention it in his memoirs, Salan in November 1961 had a personal approach from a senior C.I.A. official based in France, offering arms and material to equip a force of 50,000 men. In exchange, Salan was to cede military bases and preferential economic treatment (i.e. access to Saharan oil) in the event of his success in creating an independent, pied noir-dominated state along the lines of Rhodesia. Today such a notion may seem fanciful beyond the realms of credibility; but it is worth remembering that in November 1961 the O.A.S. looked very much as if they were winning the battle, while a peace agreement between de Gaulle and the F.L.N. seemed further away than ever, and his own life a poor insurance risk.

QUESTION: The connection between the OAS and CIA has never been fully explained. Worth chasing primary sources on the Susini story, though even its originator did not mention it in his memoirs.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 1514