AFRICAN INTRIGUE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 108, 1 February 1943, Page 5

AFRICAN INTRIGUE

Obstructive French Tactics Charged (Received January 31, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, January 30. “The more liberal censorship now makes It possible to reveal that out of about 20 who were arrested in North Africa at the time of the Allied landings only about two have so far been released., both on the score of age and sickness,” says the Algiers correspondent of the "Daily Express.” “The rest are detained thoroughly isolated from the British and American forces which they assisted last November.

“The American and British Ministers in North Africa, Messrs. Murphy and MacMillan, protested to General Giraud, but so far without result. General Giraud insists that if he is to rally tlie French army he must do so in his own way without political opponents at his back. “Many new appointments are being made to high positions in the Algerian and Moroccan Governments, and these are almost without exception men who still acknowledge Marshal Petain as their leader. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a Jew, a de Gaullist, or any other anti-Vichy follower to get a job. “Many leading industrialists and bus-, iness men who have made fortunes selling wine and food to -the Germans are now taking high profits in supplying the Allies. They do not attempt to disguise that their sympathies are chiefly with Petain and his policies. A constant flow of mail couriers passes to Petain through rhe Vichy Embassy in Madrid. Allied “Blackguards.”

"The officers in the Foreign Legion are nearly all supporters of Petain. 1 saw an order of the day in which one commandant stated that the Germans had not yet lost the war and that till they do it is the Legion's duty to take orders from Petain and wait and see what these blackguards (presumably the British and Americans) will do. General Nogues is openly derisive of the Allies iu semi-public statements.

“The pity of it all is thnt not one per cent, of the local people have the slightest idea of the mistrust and antagonism their polities have excited in Britain and America, because no reports of the British and American reactions are published here. There is gross and wide misunderstanding liecause the truth is not let in. The North African Frenchmen are living in a political vacuum, and a growing number of British and Americans here strongly feel thnt we have not yet put our protests strongly enough or given enough directions.” “Giraud Impudent." In a front page editorial, the New York “Post.” referring to "Giraud’s bombshell announcement” that unity had not been reached with General de Gaulle, accuses the State Department of having "scored the most colossal diplomatic failure of the entire war." “We say that Giraud is impudent: wt say that tlie American policy has encouraged bis impudence,” it says. ‘.‘The African clean-up must begin in Washington with the recall of Mr. Murphy and the dismissal of every member of the State Department who is behind bis policy.”

CONTRARY 7 VIEW

(Received January 31, 10 p.m.)

NEW YORK. January 30. The “New York Times" correspondent, Drew Middleton, at the Allied headquarters in North Africa, says that General Eisenhower’s statement that the British aud American staffs were in complete accord on political as well as military mailers should assist Io end rumours in Washington and London that Messrs. MacMillan and Murphy were opposed to such mailers as M. Peyrouten’s appointment. and also make it clear that Britain and America are wholeheartedly behind General Giraud’s administration. “Both Generals Giraud aud de Gaulle are exceedingly stiff-necked, but erst-

while admirers of General de Gaulle are inclined to believe that the dashing of the Allied hopes of French unity after the splendid beginning at Casablanca is more General de Gaulle’s than General Giraud’s work,” the correspondent says. “General Giraud is conservative, but there is no reason to doubt his good intentions. The atmosphere has, undergone a change, though it is difficult to believe that the military liaison will ba as close as was first expected or that the economic and financial partnership which is necessary to handle many of the problems is nearer than it was a week ago.’

FRENCH CLEAVAGE

LONDON, January 29. Reference to the loss of the British’ battleship Resolution at Dakar was made in a statement by M. Amor Bois-Lambert, who was imprisoned for life by the Vichy authorities for de Gaullist activities, but who escaped and reached England in time to accompany General de Gaulle to North Africa. . “Those in control in North Africa, must not be there when the war ends.” said M. Bois-Lambert. “General de Gaulle and General Giraud are in agreement that the war must, be won, but things are made most difficult by the presence in office of men like Nogues, Peyrouten, and Boisson. It was a man like Boisson who fired on our troops at Dakar, and who sank 11.M.5. Resolution, and the other two are not cherished in French hearts.

GIRAUD ON GRADUAL . REFORMS

LONDON. January 29. General Giraud. at a Press conference, disclosed that there is no prospect at present of a single French movement, reports the Associated Press correspondent in North Africa. The only agreement between himself and General de Gaulle xvould be a liaison on military, economic, and financial matters. Referring to the Jews, he said he had no sympathy with German views, but the question in North Africa was an internal one, in which the world as a whole had no interest. He was willing to return, property to the Jews in North Africa, and allow Jewish children to attend the schools, but the moves must be gradual. “France is receiving complete support from Great Britain and the United States,” he said. “They sec in her the ally who has never given up the struggle, either abroad, thanks to General de Gaulle's volunteers, or nt home, thanks to the Frenchmen who have been prepared to take up arms again, often at the cost of their lives.”