UNITY PROPOSALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1943, Page 3

UNITY PROPOSALS

MADE PUBLIC BY GENERAL GIRAUD SUGGESTED SAFEGUARDS OF LIBERTY. DISCUSSION CONTINUING. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 19. General Giraud has published the text of the memorandum which he sent to General de Gaulle on the question of French unity. The main points are that till France is freed of the enemy a council should be set up to exercise French national sovereignty, take charge of the French war effort, and control the resources of the colonies. A small executive committee would be responsible for the direction of affairs. As soon as the whole of France had been freed 'the council would hand over its powers to a provisional Government elected by an assembly of delegates from the various French departments, which correspond to counties. The same assembly would also fix the date for the general election of the National Assembly. This would take place only after French prisoners of war and workers in Germany had returned to France. The first important task of the National Assembly would be to set up a Constitution for France.

General Giraud says that these proposals would prevent any particular group seizing power during the interim period. As a further precaution he suggests that all public and private oaths should be immediately debarred.

It is known that the French National Committee in London agrees on certain points at least, but there are others on which it wants further clarification. General Catroux has gone to Algiers to inform General Giraud of the views of the French National Committee.