FRENCH UNITY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23967, 7 June 1943, Page 5

FRENCH UNITY

NEW COMMITTEE MEETS PROBLEMS DISCUSSED IN ALGIERS (N.Z.P.A.—8.0.W.) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, June 5. It is understood that the National Committee for the Liberation of France on Friday reached agreement on practically all points, says a correspondent- in Algiers. Certain outstanding difficulties may be composed by the creation of a small war cabinet, which will be in session almost every day. The committee will then be enlarged, with a Minister for each department, and will meet as the Cabinet, *when necessary, with the War Cabinet.

General de Gaulle and General Giraud are reported to have reached a new compromise, under which General Giraud will remain Commander-in-Chief of the French Army,_ in return for a number of concessions to General de Gaulle, says the Algiers correspondent of the Associated Press. These concessions are said to involve the replacement of a number of high officers with Fighting French generals. It is suggested that General Giraud’s command will be mainly at headquarters, and will not extend to the field. The Exchange Telegraph Agency’s correspondent in Algiers reports that the French Executive Committee met on Friday morning to consider two important questions. The first was whether it is possible for one man to hold both civil and military appointments. This, he says, obviously concerned General Giraud, who is Com-mander-in-Chief of the army and also the civil chief. The second was,the consideration of other important appointments. No communique was issued after the meeting ended. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times” says: "In spite of the official statement from Algiers indicating that the union of the French factions bore an air of finality, observers here predict a prolonged and very French drama. Official circles feel that neither General Giraud nor General de Gaulle speaks for France, and that the eventual leaders will emerge from occupied France and will not be generals.” General de Gaulle and General Giraud both spoke over the Algiers radio bn Friday evening General de Gaulle said; "We must save France, the France that is being martyred. We have been called to a great and heavy task by the desire of the French people. We have the enthusiastic support of all Frenchmen, *md together we shall bring about the rebirth of the nation.” General Giraud referred to the building up of the African army. “But there is another French army, to which mainly I am speaking now—the French army at home, without arms and without flags, the army of the French people who put up individual resistance, who sacrifice all and wan for the great moment, the French army of workers who are being dragged to Germany, the army prisoners who, I know, keep the flame of hope burning. Now that the union of all Frenchmen is achieved, France again takes her place in the ranks ot the United Nations. First comes liberation, then liberty. The who are suffering will soon hear the thunder of our guns." The Algiers radio announced that M. Gabriel Puaux. a former High Commissioner in Syria, had succeeded General Nogues as Resident-General of Morocco.

FRENCH WORKERS FOR GERMANY LAVAL CALLS UP 1942 CLASS “OBLIGATION MUST BE CARRIED OUT” (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 6. “France’s obligation to send 200.000 workers to Germany between April 4 and July '1 must be carried out,” said Laval, broadcasting over the Paris radio. "I have decided to call up the 1942 class, without exception, for work in Germany. They will all go. “Too many Frenchmen expect salvation from Britain, America, and Russia, but military events have not borne out that hope. France cannot stay always in the position of a defeated country. The Axis Powers understand this and agree. Our relations are now on a more normal basis in consequence of which I am able to announce the formation of Frances first regiment, which is the hope and promise of our new army.” IF GERMANY LOSES WAR GOEBBELS’S GLOOMY PICTURE LONDON, June 4. A gloomy picture of the position of the German people if they lose the war was painted by Goebbels in his usual weekly article in “Das Reich.” He said that the German people were locked in a life-and-death struggle. The war had been the cause of much suffering and anguish, but if the German nation broke down all hell would be let loose. GERMAN GOODS FOR TURKEY SHIPMENTS SUDDENLY STOPPED ANKARA, June 4. Commercial quarters in Ankara have revealed that German war merchandise shipments to Turkey have suddenly ceased as a result of the Allied air offensive in the Mediterranean. The Germans are reported to have asked Turkey for the indefinite postponement ofthedeliveryschedules.