Morelle, Chantal <br/><br/>
French Authorities and Harkis’ Repatriation in 1961-1962 

 -  2004.<br/>							 
<br/><br/> 35 
<br/><br/> The government and negotiators are often accused of neglecting the issue of the Harkis’ arrival and the Minister of Algerian Affairs of willfully sending back those who had come on board outside of the plan organized by the authorities. The record justifies a more subtle response. The government did not have any idea of the numbers of people involved which were in addition to the also undercounted pieds noirs, and it feared disorder. The decisions were taken collectively by the ministers in charge and under the undisputed authority of the head of state who was determined to honor the Evian agreements and its guarantees. A change occurred in the government’s plans after March 18: The optimism of the first period (April-May) was followed by a period of excesses, and instructions were more careful (June). During the summer, at the same time as the pressures on the Algerian authorities and in spite of General de Gaulle’s entreaties, the Harkis continued to arrive. It was these massive requests, far superior to the expectations, which got the better of the French authorities and the welcoming capacities that made this issue so dramatic.