FRENCH PROBLEMS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 29, 4 February 1943, Page 5

FRENCH PROBLEMS

Difficulties In North African Administration CO-OPERATION WITH AL.MES Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, February 3. Replying to a question in the House of Commons, Mr. Eden said that as North Africa was French territory the administration there primarily rested upon Frenchmen, and the first interest of the United Kingdom and the United States was to see that everything possible was done by that French administration to promote the Allied war effort in North Africa. The' Allied Com-mander-in-Chief was receiving every co-operation from the French administration, and the troops under General Giraud were playing a full part in the fighting in Tunisia. The problem of administering a territory with a mixed population, and with a war in progress, was not an easy one, nor was it easy to adapt for war purposes administration of a territorv which had been out of the war for two and a half years. General Giraud had said that there was only one political test to be applied in North Africa, that was, whoever the individual might be or whatever his political views, he should be prepared to fight and work against the common enemy. The way had been made clear for reconciliation between the French, and while much remained to be done they should realise that there were problems that could best be solved by Frenchmen.