A. NEW CHAPTER

Grey River Argus, 2 June 1943, Page 5

A. NEW CHAPTER

FOR THE FRENCH North African Central Executive

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, May 31. The French Central Executive Committee, which is the new governing body, met for the first time today at Algiers. Those present were: Generals Giraud, de Gaulle, Catroux and Georges, M. Massiglio and M. Philip Monnet. . The Columbia Broadcasting System’s Algiers correspondent says that things are moving really fast: that a new chapter has begun for Frenchmen in North Africa and also for France. Referring to the Executive Committee, the correspondent says it will form the nucleus of a body which will manage the affairs of France at war. The moral effect on French-' men in North Africa is tremendous. They have a feeling that something new has happened in North Afriira. General de Gaulle has given an active assignment with a French air combat group to General Vuillemin,, former Commander-in-Chief of the French Air Force. General de Gaulle received General Vuillemin after his arrival in Algiers and gave him a new commission with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. M. Monnet, a .diplomatist and financier, was chosen as Chairman of the British-French Co-ordination Committee for the purchase of supplies on the outbreak of war. The accession to the Allied naval forces of the French Squadron from Alexandria will be of physological value to the Allied cause, and depressing to the Axis, says Reuter s naval corresspondent. It does not mean any immediate naval gain. •. The move should be judged rather from the long-term viewpoint. None of these vessels will possible be immediately useful, as they have been lying immobile three years. Al-' though the machinery has been' well looked after, it will be many months before they are battleworthy. The old battleship Lorraine is only of limited value. The Exchange Telegraph Agency states that Admiral Godeiroy..joined the Allies: of his owni free will after negotiations with General Giraud concerning which Britain was kept fully informed. » The Morocco radio, announced that General Giraud has appointed General Georges and Jean Monnet .to the new French Central Executive Committee, consisting of nine men, two to be appointed by General Giraud and two by General de Gaulle. The Giraud-de Gaulle conversations began at Algiers to-day. General de Gaulle is accompanied by Catroux, iMassiglic and Andre Philip.

END OF THIRD REPUBLIC.

LONDON PRESS' ESTIMATE.

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The “Daily Mail,” referring to the meeting of the French Central Executive Committee says: “The third republic is finished, and a new chapter opens in the political development of France. "The committee is ‘now in being,’ though, at present, only seven of its nine members have been chosen.” The “Dailjj Mail” describes the Committee as, in other words, a Provisional Government. The- Algiers correspondent of the British United Press says: “The first report indicates that each member of the Committee will be given special authority in various spheres. This authority will correspond to portfolios in a normal cabinet, in which the members also will have a collective responsibility. It is understood that General de Gaulle is most anxious that the Committee shall have as many of the features as possible of a regular Government. General Giraud’s position remains to be cleared up. He is at present both a member of the Central Committee and Commander-in-Chief of the French Forces in North, Africa. It appears that he will retain both posts, while he does not hold any operational comriiand in the field. General de Gaulle is reported to be stressing the question of the representation and of the Executive Committee abroad. In the meantime, people in Algeria are enthusiastic about the Committee’s meeting, which they regard as a real beginning of French unity. The Associated Press Algiers correspondent says: It is learned that General Giraud’s greeting as General de Gaulle stepped from his plane was: “Bonjour, de Gaulle!” General de Gaulle replied: “Bonjour mon general!” Thus he recognised General Giraud as his superior in rank as “mon” before the rank is used in addressing superior officers.