The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 3, 1943. REUNION OF THE FRENCH.

Grey River Argus, 3 June 1943, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 3, 1943. REUNION OF THE FRENCH.

For three years Jias France been. suffering unspeakable tilings, and she does so still; but the fact remains that the enemy, except for what he has plundered, has Incited the support he expected from her. Even Laval is in the bad books of the Nazis, the Vichy regime being accused of bungling the whole scheme to obtain labour. The achievement of French unity, for long a most vital problem for the Allied Nations. especially for Britain, has now begun, the stage being set for a salutary turn in the fortunes an Ally able still to play no mean part in the defeat of Germany. There have been in- Britain not a few people, able to make themselves heard, who have been trying to put a fat linger into the French pie, and who have questioned whether the Americans did not play also for- their own hand when they arrived in North Africa. The best answer to this suspicion is now afforded in Al giers, where the establishment of the French Central Executive Committee forms the nucleus of new French government. In a sense, General Giraud, though he came much' later than General De Gaulle into the picture of French oversea resistance to the enemy, give that resistance the greatest impetus it ever had before the French Army joined the Allies in the operations leading to the recapture of Tunisia. To say this is not, of course, to deny "that De Gaulle is equally with Giraud a great representative of the French military tradition. The meeting of these two, though the immediate upshot is not yet definite, means at least that North Africa, has become the cradle from which the greatness and genius of France may emerge in its full vigour once more. The Generals certainly joined hands in the task of re establishing their country completely in Europe. Success in that endeavour would undoubtedly’ mean a restoration of the centre of gravity on the Continent, and. from the indications of failing fiioralc "within Hitler’s “.fortress,” a restoration that might not be so very long delayed. France has visibly begun to advance to her own regeneration. Moreover, it is not outsiders, but the French themselves who alone understand and can fashion the approach to that regeneration. While General De Gaulle on arrival in Algiers, is said to have saluted General Giraud as his superior, it turns out that the recently appointed Gov-ernor-General at Algiers, M. Feyronton, in bowing to De Gaulle’s wish for! his dismissal, tendered the latter his resignation, thus recognising De Gaulle as head of the new Executive, instead of Giraud, by whom M. Peyrouton had been appointed. Though the Americans have, on the whole, been quick to sec the wisdom of non-interference, they also appear to regard De Gaulle as one determined to dominate the new regime, and Giraud as likely to give way to him. So long as there is no outside intervention, however, neither Americans nor British Heed bother should General De Gaulle become the leader of a reunited and regenerated French nation. De Ganile from the outset has stood for resistance to the Prussians, and even when the latter had France at their mercy, he opposed any parley. Since then the row he has had to hoe has been a hard one,, although he has always remained in the closest touch with the British. It

is quite conceivable that, had they the opportunity, the French people would range themselves generally alongside him, 'but they have not had any such opportunity, but instead have been compelled to make for themselves the best terms possible with an enemy whose main object has been to' plunder and exploit them. Equally is Giraud a patriot, and his attitude must also merit respect. There will be require to be give and lake; but De Gaulle is a young man of much initiative and ability, experienced during the war in leadership under most difficult conditions, and should he come finally to the top, he should prove as great a leader as any other of his countrymen who might aspire to that task.