French Diplomat Objects To Chanderli Invitation

An official of the French consulate in Boston recently labelled a proposed Law School Forum discussion between a French representative and a member of the Algerian provisional government as an insult to the honor of France.

Because of the recent outbreak of hostilities in Algeria, the Forum had invited Abdel Kader Chanderli, an envoy from the Font de Liberation National, the provisional Algerian government (now in Tunis) to argue the stand of the nationalists. They had also asked the French consulate either to send or to recommend an expert to clarify the colonial position of the Fifth Republic.

Previously, however, the group had also requested President DeGaulle to speak during his visit to the United States next spring.

"Change of Heart"

At first, a spokesman for the local consulate agreed to help the members of the Forum locate a suitable representative for France. However, when they called him a second time, he had had "a change of heart," according to David Levinson '57, president of the Forum.

The official allegedly declared that he could not see how an organization which had invited DeGaulle to appear on its platform could expect him to appear when "a man like Chanderli" could also speak there. It was obviously a matter of honor--no Frenchman would appear in such a position, he said.