U.S. DISCLAIMER

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 102, 25 January 1943, Page 5

U.S. DISCLAIMER

State Department And Peyrouten

(Received January 21, 10.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 23. Tlie Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says authoritative military quarters declare tliul the State Department takes no responsibility for M. Pcyrouten’s appointment as Governor-General of Algeria. The ‘decision to summon Peyrouten from Argentina was made by General Giraud several weeks ago, and it was also subsequently approved bj' General Eisenhower. General Giraud, it is reported, regards Peyrouten as a skilful administrator without a pro-Ger-inan or defeatist bias in spite of his service in the Vichy Cabinet.

WORSE CONFOUNDED

Political Situation In Algiers (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, January 22; Far from the political situation in French North Africa being improved, it has been worsened by the appointment of Al. I’eyrouteu, who is heartily disliked iu Britain mid America. A chorus has been raised here demanding who appointed him, and much of his unsavoury past has been recalled, including his declaration on May 9, 1941 : "Only, madmen believe in a British victory. The Axis is bound to win.” The “Manchester Guardian’s” diplomatic correspondent says: "It is difficult to escape the conclusion that Feyrouten’s appointment is nothing less than a deliberate bid to i’oretsall the very necessary reformation of French North Africa by establishing a situation which for one thing would make the unification of all the French forces lighting for the liberation of France very difficult to achieve. By entrenching adherents of Vichy behind the most prominent and influential positions their political preponderance would be assured. I’eyrouteu s appointment is certainly uot without political significance. Responsibility for this step cannot be attributed entirely to the Allied military authorities or General Giraud."

The "Daily Herald’’ says that Peyrouten's appointment is a political blunder of the first order, made ill the teeth of warning and protest, mid declines, “It makes nonsense of all we have been told of our intentions' mid purposes.” Nauseating Scene.

The more that is learned of the position in North Africa mid the views and attitude of the Fighting French, the more it is felt that there will be no satisfactory outcome till Britain and America take a stronger stand. When General Eisenhower arrived in North Africa he found that, not having brought a group of trained people who could take over ,the civil administration —ns do the Nazis when they enter a country-—lie bad to rely on French officials, who as a whole are men who preferred to save their skins instead of France, in .1940. What they desire now is to gain a position of importance so that after the war they can aspire to rule France.

But neither Britain nor America desires to establish any group or person for this role; they want to ensure that. freed France shall make its own choice. It is difficult to escape nausea. These politicians are squabbling among themselves instead of sinking their differences and getting on with the fight to free their country. , It is also a fuel, Unit the I'lghtmg French could be more helpful. WASHINGTON, January 22.

Fighting French headquarters has announced that Major Surrat, commander of the French garrison in Martinique, has escaped and has joined the forces of the Fighting French. The announcement quoted him ns saying that, since the American landings in North Africa the bulk of French Martinque has been openly hostile to the Vichy Government, mid several hundred persons have petitioned Admiral Robert, French High Commissioner in Alartinqiie, urging the re-entry of the French Uaribbeans into the fighting against the Axis