Jacques Soustelle

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Jacques Soustelle (died 1990) was a French anthropologist and politician.[1]

He joined Charles De Gaulle's Free French movement soon after its formation in 1940. After a period serving in Latin America he was appointed head of the Free French secret service in 1943.[2]

Following the liberation of France in 1944, he became Minister of Information and, subsequently, Minister of Colonies. In 1955, Prime Minister Pierre Mendes-France appointed him Governor-General of Algeria. He was withdrawn a year later. When De Gaulle returned to power in 1958, he made him Minister of Information and then a deputy Foreign Minister.[3]

According to the Jerusalem Post: Soustelle was a very close friend of Israel, particularly during the 1950s, and was among the forces behind the military pact between France and Israel. He was a personal friend of David Ben-Gurion and Shimon Peres as well as Herut leaders such as Menachem Begin. He paid numerous visits to this country, and headed the France-Israel Alliance Association.[4]

In 1962, Soustelle resigned from the government because of his opposition to independence for Algeria. He went on to form a clandestine organisation with Georges Bidault and General Raoul Salan.[5]

Later that year, Soustelle was charged with attempts against the state, and fled the country, remaining in exile for seven years.[6] Soustelle denied being a member of the Organisation de l'armée secrète (OAS), claiming only to have been a leader of the Conseil National de la Resistance (CNR). However, he ultimately dropped a court action against Robert Silman, who claimed the two organisations were one and the same.[7]

He returned to France at the age of 58 following a general amnesty for political prisoners.[8]

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Notes

  1. Joan Cook, Jacques Soustelle, Leader in Fight For a French Algeria, Dies at 78, New York Times, 9 August 1990.
  2. Joan Cook, Jacques Soustelle, Leader in Fight For a French Algeria, Dies at 78, New York Times, 9 August 1990.
  3. Joan Cook, Jacques Soustelle, Leader in Fight For a French Algeria, Dies at 78, New York Times, 9 August 1990.
  4. FRENCH FRIEND JACQUES SOUSTELLE DIES AT AGE 78, The Jerusalem Post, 8 August 1990.
  5. Joan Cook, Jacques Soustelle, Leader in Fight For a French Algeria, Dies at 78, New York Times, 9 August 1990.
  6. Joan Cook, Jacques Soustelle, Leader in Fight For a French Algeria, Dies at 78, New York Times, 9 August 1990.
  7. Robert Silman, Obituary: Jacques Soustelle, The Independent, 11 August 1990.
  8. Joan Cook, Jacques Soustelle, Leader in Fight For a French Algeria, Dies at 78, New York Times, 9 August 1990.