HELD JUSTIFIED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 November 1942, Page 3

HELD JUSTIFIED

SOLELY BY THE STRESS OF BATTLE TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT WITH DARLAN. EXPLANATION BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, November 17. Political arrangements with the French in North Africa were only a temporary expedient justified solely by the stress of battle, declared President Roosevelt at a Press conference. He read a formal statement explaining that General Eisenhower’s temporary arrangement with Admiral Darlan was justified because it saved American, British and French lives. It also rendered unnecessary a mopping-up period in Algiers and Morocco of probably a month or two, which . would have delayed the attack on Tunis, adding, “and, we hope, on Tripoli.” Mr Roosevelt said that every day’s delay would have enabled the Germans and Italians to build up strong resistance requiring a huge operation on our part before we could win. He said he thoroughly understood and approved the feeling here and in Britain and all the United Nations that, in view of the history of the past two years no permanent arrangement should be made with Darlan. The United Nations never would understand the recognition of a reconstituting of tne Vichy Government in France or in any French territory, but, in the meantime, he had accepted General Eisenhower’s political arrangements. President Roosevelt said he had asked for the liberation of all persons in North Africa imprisoned because they opposed Nazi efforts to dominate the world. He had also asked for the abrogation of all Nazi-inspired law decrees Reports indicate that the French in North Africa are subordinating all political questions to the formation of a common front against the common enemy, continued Mr Roosevelt. French troops, commanded by General Giraud, are already fighting in Tunisia by the side of British and American soldiers for the liberation of their country. The future French Government will be established by the French people themselves when set free by the United Nations’ victory and not by any individual in metropolitan France, oi overseas. No one in the American Army has the authority to discuss the future government of France and the French empire. Asked whether he could say anything on the position of General de Gaulle, Mr Roosevelt replied that it was all right and he would not worry about it. FIGHTING FRENCH APPROVAL OF ROOSEVELT’S STATEMENT. LONDON, November 18. A Fighting French spokesman said: ? “President Roosevelt’s statement clearly and completely confirms what we always hoped, namely, that the present arrangement in North Africa is merely brief and temporary. X)uistatement on Monday night was necessary because there was considerable consternation and bewilderment in France, but not because we had the least shadow of doubt about the good faith of our American allies.”