DISCUSSIONS IN ALGIERS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23965, 4 June 1943, Page 5

DISCUSSIONS IN ALGIERS

ANOTHER MEETING OF COMMITTEE CORRESPONDENTS’ VIEWS ON DEVELOPMENTS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 3. It is officially announced in Algiers that General de Gaulle, General Giraud, and the other members of the French Executive Committee will meet to-day. An earlier message said that a deadlock had been reached between General de Gaulle and General Giraud. Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers, in a dispatch last night, said; “It is learned authoritatively to-night that the situation arising from the differences between the delegations of General Giraud and General de Gaulle is by no means as bad as it appears on the surface. There is little doubt in official and responsible quarters that the whole problem, may be cleaned up earlier than was expected. The fact that General Eisenhower saw General de Gaulle to-day has created a stronger impression of an early settlement.” General de Gaulle, commenting yesterday on the situation, said that it would be regarded as a bad dream in French history. The principles of Fighting France would emerge triumphant and lead to Paris and victory. Speaking at a luncheon given by the emigre British and American Press Association of Paris, General de Gaulle said: “To-day we are in North Africa, to-morrow we shall be in Marseilles, and the following day in Paris.’’ “Wider Apart Than Ever” The Algiers correspondent of the National Broadcasting Corporation says that General Giraud and General de Gaulle are wider apart than ever. General de Gaulle, with no authority, accepted M, Peyrouton’s resignation as Governor-General of Algeria. Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers says that an official explanation has been given of the bungle over the resignation. M. Peyrouton decided to resign and wrote to both General Giraud and General de Gaulle, addressing each as chairman of the French Central Executive Committee, a post which it is proposed they should hold alternately. When the letter to General de Gaulle was released shortly before midnight, General Giraud had not received his letter, which did not arrive until the middle of the night, and it was issued to the press at 3 a.m. The local French press published only the letter to General Giraud, the explanation being that the French censorship, on receiving the letter to General de Gaulle, held it up for a ruling, but passed the letter to General Giraud immediately it was received. “There is no doubt,’’ this correspondent adds, “that the incident has created an unfortunate impression and has damped the hopes which were raised high on Tuesday night by the original announcement about M. Peyrouton’s letter of resignation to General de Gaulle, which looked like the first move towards really bridging the gap between the two sides.” Mischief-making Seen The Algiers correspondent of ‘‘The Times” describes the circumstances of M. Peyrouton’s resignation as an ugly piece of mischief-making, and adds that it is not yet certain who was responsible, nor is it apparent how the situation will be clarified. “It is understood that the French troops in Algiers have been confined to barracks for fear of demonstrations by sections unfavourable to General de Gaulle,” says the Algiers correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Telegraph.” ‘‘The streets round the hotel where an official lunch was given to General de Gaulle yesterday were cordoned off, and the police carefully inspected the guests’ credentials.” The correspondent adds: “General de Gaulle gives the impression of confidence in his ability to win the campaign for popular support. The population is widely partisan although beyona doubt the younger section favours General de Gaulle. If something in the nature of an election campaign or open manoeuvring for popularity can be justified in war time, undoubt- ' edly General de Gaulle holds the strongest cards.” i Post for Muselier The Algiers correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports that General Giraud has ! appointed Admiral Muselier his de-puty-commander-in-chief and charged him with the maintenance of order in Algiers. “The appointment of Admiral Muselier, a former member of the Fighting French hierarchy, ■ who later 1 broke with General de Gaulle, after which he was regarded as a bitter opponent, will, it is believed, increase the present tension,” adds the correspondent. “General de Gaulle earl- : ier had Admiral Muselier under ' house arrest in London, and Admiral 1 Muselier is now the chief policeman of the area in which Genera] de Gaulle operates.” The Algiers correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System says that apart from General Nogues and | M. Boisson, the men whom General de Gaulle wants dismissed are General Mendigal, the chief of the French air forces, Admiral the commander of the French naval forces, General Prioux, who is now i on General Giraud's staff, and General Bergeret, the commander of the French air forces in French West Africa. Supporters of General de Gaulle say flatly that no real steps towards union can be taken until these men are dismissed.