ABSTRACT
Abbas,Ferhat(1899-1985)Algerianpolitician.BornatTaher,theson ofacivilservant.EducatedatthelyceeofConstantineandtheUniversityofAlgiers,wherehetookadegreeinpharmacy.Presidentof theAlgerianMuslimStudentUnion.In1931publishedhisfirstbook, LejeuneAlgerien.BecameapharmacistinSetifin1933.Atthistimehe wantedpoliticalprogressbutbelievedittobepossibletobebothan AlgerianMuslimandFrench.HejoinedtheFrencharmyduringthe SecondWorldWarandwasdismayedbyFrance'sdefeat.InNovember 1942hemetPresidentRoosevelt'sspecialenvoy,R.Murphy,andbelievedtheprinciplesoftheAtlanticChartershouldbeappliedtoAlgeria. In1943hepublished'ManifestooftheAlgerianpeople',whichcalled foranautonomousAlgerianstatewithintheFrenchUnion.Theorganisationhefoundedtoworkforreform,Lesamisdumanifesteetdela liberte(Thefriendsofthemanifestoandofliberty),wascomposedof moderateMuslimleadersbutitwasdissolvedafterriotsinSetifinMay 1945andAbbasinterned.In1946hefoundedaparty,l'UnionDemocratiqueduManifesteAlgerien(UDMA,theDemocraticUnionforthe AlgerianManifesto)andthesameyearplayedanimportantpartinthe secondFrenchConstituentAssembly.Likeothermoderatesheatfirst opposedtherebellionofNovember1954butgavehispublicblessingto theaimsoftheFLN(NationalLiberationFront)afterApril1956,when apeacefulsolutioncametoseemimpossiblebecauseoftheopposition oftheFrenchsettlers.HewasPrimeMinisteroftheprovisionalgovernmentinTunis,1958-61,andafterAlgerianindependencehebecame PresidentoftheNationalAssembly,1962-63,butresignedbecauseof differenceswithBenBella.BenBellaexiledhimtoadistantpartofthe countryandin1965theBoumedienneregimeplacedhimunderhouse arrest.Hewasonlycompletelyrehabilitatedin1984.Alwaysdistrusted astoopro-Frenchbymoreradicalpoliticians,hismainservicetohis countrywastomakeAlgeriannationalismrespectableintheeyesofthe worldbyhismoderationandinternationaldiplomacy,especiallyinthe period1958-61.
