THE DEADLOCK IN ALGIERS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23977, 18 June 1943, Page 5

THE DEADLOCK IN ALGIERS

“OUTLOOK IS MORE HOPEFUL” NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. General de Gaulle and General Giraud were present to-day at a plenary session of the French Committee of National Liberation. It was the committee’s first plenary session. The position of the deadlock remains unclarified. The committee did not meet yesterday, although General de Gaulle had asked for a full session. Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers says that General de Gaulle has withdrawn his threat to resign, and the outlook is more hopeful. “The two men who have played the foremost part as mediators, General Catroux and M. Monnet, speaking at a press luncheon yesterday, expressed confidence that agreement would finally be reached,” the corrrespondent adds. “M.‘ Monnet, who enjoys General Giraud's confidence, said that unity had Already been achieved, and that the present difficulties were merely the birth pangs of translating unity from phrases on paper to practice. General Catroux also expressed entire confidence as to the outcome of the discussions.” General Catroux, in another speech at the opening of the Superior Council of Algeria, ih his capacity as Gov-ernor-General of Algeria, said: “It is through Algeria that we shall enter France. We shall extend the liberation of France to our furthermost frontiers.” The council, which last met ih 1940. has now resumed its sittings under a recent. decree. restoring the. functions of such semi-legislative bodies which were suspended under the Vichy regime. The efforts of the French leaders to resolve their serious differences will, it is hoped in London, soon be brought to a successful conclusion, but for the present the situation does not seem to have clarified. “Widespread Impatience” “The new delays and set-backs have caused sharp disappointment and widespread impatience, creating an atmosphere in which, if it is not dissolved soon, the interests and reputation of France must suffer severely/’ states the “Manchester Guardian.” The* newspaper adds: “The differences are not merely a result Of personal rivalry and incompatible temperaments. One of the two then is young, with his own ideas of army organisation, and the other is an old man, whose integrity and sincerity lose a little from his disinclination to take disagreeable steps. General de Gaulle thinks that unless the French Army is remoulded, France’s military effort, on which so much of the future of France depends, will be less powerful. General Giraud sees inconveniences and difficulties in the change, and he fears that the military effort may be embarrassed by precipitate action. “General de Gaulle struck a great blow for France and freedom when he summoned Frenchmen to continue the war. General Giraud struck a great blow when he escaped from prison and landed in Africa. They would be false to themselves and their duty if they were now to plunge France and her Allies into new troubles from lack of power to co-operate for her deliverance.” AFFILIATION NOT GRANTED COMMUNIST PARTY AND LABOUR 1,951,000 VOTES TO 712,000 LONDON, June 16. The Labour Patty ,p onlqrence .rejected the Communist Party’s application for affiliation by 1,951,000 votes to 712,000. The result was loudly acclaimed. The issue came before the conference first on a motion by the Manchester Labour Patty recommending the rejection Of the Communist Party’s application and second, on a motion supporting affiliation provided the Communist Party agreed to accept and abide by the constitution of the Labour Party. The mineworkets gave a 600,000 block vote ih favour of affiliation, Mr George Ridley, M.P., who is a member of the executive, said that the CommUhist Party’s attitude throughout the war showed that it Was entirely unreliable and unrealistic. Its attitude was entirely at variance with that of the Labour Party. The Communist Party would be a snake coiling itself with pretended affection round the body of its victim, and sucking its life-blood. The Home Secretary (Mr Herbert Morrison) urged the conference riot to confuse the issue with Britain’s relations with Russia. The Labour Party had consistently maintained the desirability of healthy, friendly British and Russian relations, and it would continue to do so. He urged the Communist Party to make the supreme sacrifice for unity by dissolving its organisation, after which the members could take the chance on their oWh merits of becoming individual members of the Labour Party. Mr Morrison strongly advised delegates, without heat, hate, or rancour, to reject the application. In a statement made after the rejection of the application, Mr Harry Pollitt, on behalf of the Communist Party, said: “At a moment when the supreme battles of the war are opening and Labour unity is vital for the peoples of tfie future, we regret the Labour Party’s decision. We are ready to co-operate with the Labour Party and its affiliated organisations in any local or national campaigns, and to meet the Labour Party executive and discuss co-operation, which is in the interests of the whole movement. The Communist Party will continue to work for national and international unity, particularly for the unity of the working class movement.” The relief of Europe after the war was discussed at to-day's session of the conference. Resolutions passed stated that after the war food and clothing, medical supplies, as well as seed, fertilisers, and tractors, must be sent to stricken Europe. HOUSING SHORTAGE IN N.S.W. TEN-YEAR BUILDING PLAN SUGGESTED (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 17. “By the end of the year New South Wales will be short of more than 80,000 houses' The cost involved will be about £4o,ooo,ooo—less than one month’s Australian expenditure on the war,’’ said Mr H. B. Nolan, chairman of the State Housing Commission, giving evidence before the Commonwealth Housing Commission. Mr Nolan advocated a 10-year home building plan, with houses to be constructed at the rate of 5000 a year, and he suggested that any surplus from the War Damage Compensation Fund might be applied to housing. He considered that a type of home costing £BOO should be the unit in Aus. tralia’s post-war rehousing scheme, but he commented that the basic wage worker could not afford to pay for such a home. First-aid for Airmen.—A new firstaid pack which will soon be carried by all Royal Air Force flying personnel includes gloves containing antiseptic and curative powders, for use in the event of burns. The gloves, which are made from a secret new surgical silk, are expected to result in a big saving of life and suffering. It has been found that the hands of air crews suffer most from burns, because they sometimes have to beat out fires in aircraft during bomber raids.— London, June 17.