FRENCH UNITY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23962, 1 June 1943, Page 5

FRENCH UNITY

DE GAULLE AND GIRAUD MEET CONFERENCE AT ALGIERS (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. General de Gaulle and Genenl Giraud have begun their talks on French unity. General de Gaulle arrived at Algiers yesterday morning by air. No communique has yet been issued on the progress of the talks. General de Gaulle arrived in an aeroplane named Paris with the Cross of Lorraine painted on the fuselage. General de Gaulle was the first to step out of the aeroplane and, after saluting General Giraud, heartily shook hands with him. In a statement in Algiers, General de Gaulle said: "It is not only our desire, but our firmest wish to achieve here the unity of the French Empire in order

GENERAL DE GAULLE and expects unity to be achieved immediately. A central French power will have to decide what should be done in the interests of the war effort. This body should consist only of men materially and morally capable of leading Frenchmen in this conflict in the interests of the Allies as well as Frenchmen. I am sure that agreement can easily be reached on these three points.” In a statement after welcoming General de Gaulle, General Giraud revealed that “identity of view” had previously been established. The statement read: “The conversations held in the last few 4ays between the French National Committee in London and the French High Command in Algiers, have shown that agreement has been reached. It is therefore in an atmosphere devoid of political partisanship and with the sole desire for the unity of our forces that General de Gaulle and I are meeting.” The arrival of General de Gaulle in North Africa and the happy prospect of French national unity which this portends, caused much rejoicing in Algiers. A large crowd flocked the streets and the city’s big square, singing the “Marseillaise" in the afternoon, when General de Gaulle placed a wreath on the war memorial, states an agency message, A message from Algiers says that many high military and civilian officials will lose their jobs. The Brazzaville radio states that General Giraud holds the resignations of M. Peyrouton, Governor-General of Algeria, M Boisson, Governor-Gen-eral of French West Africa, and General Nogues, Deputy-High Commissioner in French North Africa.

FRENCH GENERAL ESCAPES

ARRIVAL AT ALGIERS LONDON. May 30 The Algiers radio has announced the arrival in Algiers, after his escape from France, of General Alphonse Georges, formerly General Gamelin’s second in command. General Georges has placed himself at the disposal of his old friend and comrade, General Giraud. In 1940 General Georges was in charge of the western sector of the Maginot Line in the area which was attacked by the Germans.

JEWS ARRESTED AT TANGIER

ACTION BY SPANISH AUTHORITIES (Roc. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Spanish police have arrested about 300 Jewish Arab youths, most of whom have been deported to Spanish Morocco, reports the correspondent of “The Times” in Tangier. The French consul-general is reported to have supplied a full list of volunteers for work in Allied-coii-trolled French Morocco, thus helping the police to make the arrests. It is clear that the Spanish authorities intentionally initiated the movement. as German influence throughout Spanish Morocco is stronger than ever. Terror reigns in the Jewish colony. Jewish employees of British firms constantly fear arrest for serving British interests. Police picketed the printing office of tho local British newspaper, the "Taneicr Gazette." to prevent publication, Employees, to avoid arrest and deportation, remained on the premises, where they were fed. Aircraft Engines Sold for £lo.—Disused Royal Air Force Napier Lion aeroplane engines, which when new cost nearly £2OOO, are being sold in London for £lO each, complete in working order. “The Times” quotes a scrap meta] merchant as sayiqg that he bought them for breaking, for which he found there was insufficient labour, so he was now selling them to aeronautical enthusiasts who thought they would build their own aeroplanes after the war. The Ministry of Aircraft Production said that their civil repair organisation was too busy to deal with all the engines offered. London, May 31.