NEAR AGREEMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21113, 5 June 1943, Page 3

NEAR AGREEMENT

FRENCH LEADERS WAR CABINET PLAN ATTITUDE OF ALLIES (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 4. It is understood that the National Committee for the Liberation oi France, at a meeting to-day, reached an agreement on practically all points, states an agency correspondent from Algiers. Certain outstanding difficulties may be composed by the creation oi a small War Cabinet which will be in session almost daily. The committee will then be enlarged with a Minister for each department and will meet as a cabinet, when necessary, with the War Cabinet.

The diplomatic position arising from the formation oi the French committee of National Liberation was outlined by Mr. H. Macmillan, British Minister of State, and Mr. R. Murphy, American Consul-General.

The Times’ correspondent in Algiers says they again emphasised that, up lo' the present, all the meetings be- ! ween the French leaders had been nformal and it would be for the Allied Governments to decide, in the light of many precedents, what degree ol recognition would be accorded to the new committee. It must be made clear that the meetings were between the two do facto authorities, without juridical basis, who were trying to combine into one which would be equally de facto. Until the whole of the French people were able to express their will by constitutional and free channels, there was no question of according de jure recognition to any French authority while a free expression of opinion was denied to the people ol France.

Reuter’s correspondent in Algiers points out that while military problems are the first consideration, the new French Government is faced with many economic matters affecting the administration of the large native population of North Africa. On longterm problems, the Government must consider, first, the organisation of the administration on a sufficiently wide basis to include all sections working inside and outside France for the liberation of the Motherland; secondly, the future life and organisation of the administration once the Allied armies set foot on France’s soil; and, thirdly, lire post-ivar claims and requirements of France and the Empire.

The correspondent states that a vital problem is the civilian and military status, a complete divorce between which is demanded by France’s whole republican tradition. General Giraud, combining the civil and military authority in himself, found the compromise on this basic principle to be the best medium for the government of French North Africa, but General de Gaulle’s delegation has vigorously opposed this principle, even to the extent of declaring that their leader is acting in a civilian capacity despite his military rank. - M. Massigli informed the British and American Ministers at Algiers l hat the new committee pledges itself lo help the allies to win the war effort against the Japanese. The French Central Executive Committee reached full agreement at this morning’s session, says Reuter's correspondent in Algiers. The personnel of the French committee of National Liberation is the same as previously agreed upon. General Giraud and General de Gaulle will be joint heads, alternating in presiding. General Georges and M. Monnet are members selected by General Giraud. M. Massigli and M. Philip were selected by General de Gaulle. General Giraud and General de Gaulle both accepted General Calroux. General de Gaulle, on behalf of the Fighting French, stressed his satisfaction with the unity which had been realised. , . ~ The Algiers’ correspondent of the Associated Press says that political quarters state that M. Gabriel Pauaux, a former High Commissioner in Syria, will succeed General Nogues as Resident-General of Morocco. Reuter’s correspondent says that the agreement still does not solve the question of General Giraud’s status as commander-in-chief as there is the problem of the two existing armies.