William Leiss: From Washington to Algiers, from steel to war, a war which had been long and costly. France and Algiers alike had bled almost to exhaustion. Even the proud, imperious Charles de Gaulle had staked his political life, possibly France's future, on bringing fighting to an end. And then in mid-March, a ceasefire went into effect.
Unknown Speaker: "The Europeans of Algiers received the broadcast of General de Gaulle on today's ceasefire agreement in typical fashion: from windows and balconies, in spite of a cold night wind, they beat out on pots and pans or anything that came to hand the rhythm of (foreign language), French Algeria. OAS squads managed, as they've done before, to prevent the television broadcast to the General's speech lasting more than a few minutes. Then the television screen went blank, and the sound died."
William Leiss: All was not yet peace in Algiers. First, it was ripped by fractional disputes: who would run this newly independent land? And it was Ben Bella, reputedly somewhat too familiar with Communism to win solid U.S. respect, who finally swept aside the opposition and rode triumphant into Algiers.
Unknown Speaker: "Ben Bella and his men entered the city in triumph to the ringing cheers of thousands of its citizens. Ben Bella is sticking to the ceasefire agreement, which called for a demilitarized city in Algiers; but his troops will be based close at hand in the city's suburbs."
William Leiss: Slowly the fighting in Algiers died to internal problems.
The mean, dirty jungle war in South Vietnam grew in intensity. American troops and equipment were moved in to prevent the collapse of that vital corner of freedom in Southeast Asia.
But the big threat to peace outside the western hemisphere came neither from North Africa nor Vietnam. In areas long disputed by the two most populous nations of the Far East, the Chinese made the first move: they shattered India's illusions with the same suddenness that they shattered the peace.
Michael Malloy from New Delhi followed that war.
Michael Malloy: "India has suffered serious losses of men and ground on both ends over her long frontier with China. Casualties have been very heavy, according to Defense Minister Krishna Menon. His troops have lost four outposts in the Chip Chap Valley in the far northwestern corner of the country.
"But the biggest conflict has been on the northeast frontier. The Chinese there have pushed five miles past the line which India recognizes as the border. So far, however, this has been only a frontier war, and neither side has dared to use airplanes to strike behind enemy lines."
William Leiss: After rolling back Indian troops on every high-mountain front, the Chinese voluntarily brought the war to an armistice on their terms, according to Radio Peking.
Unknown Speaker: "Beginning from the day following that of the issuance of the present statement -- that is, from zero hours on November 22nd, 1962 -- the Chinese frontier guards will cease fire along the entire Sino-Indian border."
