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This article looks at an episode which though it happened in Tunisia had a direct link to the Algerian War of Independence (1954–62), and thus propelled the war to an international conflict that pitted the Western powers, namely; France, Britain and America against each other. By the time the incident occurred the Algerian War had been going on for just over three years with the French seemingly gaining the upper hand. This article endeavours to show how this incident complicated the Algerian conflict and how the episode was viewed internationally, especially from the British Government and media perspectives both had keen interest on the Algerian conflict as a result of their own empire in other parts of Africa. The article is based largely on archival research at the Public Record Office at Kew, (England) and Newspaper archives at Colindale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports international developments related to military defense and strategy. The Council of Ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization held its 10th annual meeting in Paris, France, to discuss the integration of the organization's military forces. France told the Council that it could not be responsible for the defense of Europe unless it commanded an integrated military organization. In other developments, Great Britain has announced that its four rocket bases armed with a total of about 60 U.S. rockets, were ready for activation and service when the need arise.

The article reports global developments related to nuclear warfare and disarmament. On The Soviet Union sent notes to the U.S., Britain, France, India, and China containing a seven-point disarmament plan which included a partial acceptance of President Dwight Eisenhower's open skies suggestion. The proposals called for a nonaggression agreement between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Warsaw Pact countries. The aerial inspection would apply to the part of Europe where most of the NATO and Warsaw Pact military forces are stationed.