STRONG CRITICISM

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 100, 22 January 1943, Page 5

STRONG CRITICISM

Peyrouten’s Appointment (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 20.

According to a United Press report General de Gaulle was not consulted about M. Peyrouten’s appointment as .Governor-General of Algeria, and would not have approved of it if he had been, says the “Daily lieraid's” diplomatic correspondent. It is suspected that the American State Department was swayed by Peyrouten’s suave assurances, and'persuaded General Giraud to appoint him. The correspondent adds that M. Laval stated that Peyrouten was the first Frenchman to introduce Nazi methods in North Africa. A few months later Peyrouten turned against, him, and he had Marshal Petain dismiss him. Outspoken criticizm of the State Department's handling of the political field in North Africa is voiced by the NewYork “Herald-Tribune's” commentator, Walter Lippmann. He describes the American Minister, Mr. Murphy, ns a man lacking in detachment, who would readily take on the political colour of those with whom he associates. “The time has come,” he says. _ to cease misleading the American public by pretending that the political situation, which is our entire responsibility, is muddled because of what has been said in London. The control is in Washington, and the decision must be made, there to send a political representative of sufficient calibre to cope with the situation.”