In Algeria the F.L.N. called a general strike against the proposal of partition, beginning on 1 July and reaching a climax of violence on the 5th. Although Algiers and Constantine were the centres of rioting, the tide swept even such pied noir strongholds as Blida in the Mitidja. Accompanied by openly armed fellaghas, the Muslim mobs surged right into the European quarters. Some 35,000 French troops had to be called out, and by the time order had been restored eighty Muslims were dead and over 400 injured. This was almost immediately succeeded by a new offensive of F.L.N. terrorism, claiming eighteen dead and ninety-six wounded over one period of twenty-four hours. The discouraging revelation was also made that almost all of the 6,000 detainees released by de Gaulle as a douceur to the Evian talks had promptly rejoined the ranks of the revolt.

QUESTION: The detainee release backfiring raises the question of why de Gaulle's goodwill gesture failed so predictably — was intelligence on who would rejoin the revolt available beforehand?

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 1440