FRENCH LEADERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1943, Page 3

FRENCH LEADERS

VIEWS OF GENERAL DE GAULLE CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES DESIRED. ALGIERS THE ONLY POSSIBLE MEETING PLACE. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, May 5. General de Gaulle stated that he was willing to go to North Africa immediately to meet General Giraud, but reiterated that Algiers was the only possible place for such a meeting. “I cannot risk tete-a-tete discussions, the decisions of which will decide the French Empire’s future and France’s destiny,” he said. “The agreements and consultations necessary to establish a central power must take place in Algiers which is the French empire’s capital.” It should be a conference of delegates rather than a meeting between the two leaders. He said he had answered General Giraud’s invitation to that effect.

General de Gaulle claimed that “Captive France” as prepared to approve such a body pending France’s election of a Government in the strict sense of the word. He said there are at present only two idealisms among the French — the Cross of Lorraine for almost all and the old marshall for some. An attempt to impose authority which came neither from Vichy nor Fighting France could not succeed.