EARLY MEETING PLANNED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23845, 14 January 1943, Page 3

EARLY MEETING PLANNED

GENERALS DE GAULLE AND GIRAUD

COMPOSING FRENCH DIFFERENCES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 12. An American Associated Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters in North Africa says a French spokesman announced that General Giraud and General de Gaulle will meet soo;; and attempt to compose their differences.

Many telegrams have been exchanged with a view to such a meeting. A French spokesman told correspondents that General de Gaulle wished to meet General Giraud m North Africa early in January, but this was impossible because General Giraud was then visiting French West Africa. He thought, however, that a meeting would lake place as soon as it could be arranged. The British Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) talked in London yesterday with General Catroux' head of the Fighting French in Syria. A joint British, United States, and French commission has. been set up in Algiers to investigate the position of political prisoners and refugees in French North Africa and French West Africa. The commission will visit all camps and places where prisoners are held, and will examine the evidence on which they are detained. It will not have power to release prisoners, but will be able to recommend action to the French authorities. The influence exercised by Vichy supporters in French North Africa is .discussed by the “Economist,” which describes them as “collaborationists.” “They are the first particular problem on which the Allies must agree, for, as the tide of victory turns, the opportunists will make desperate efforts to switch loyalties, and if the principle is established that they are acceptable to the Allies trouble will be stored up, including the possibility of estranged relations between the Allies.” FURTHER ARRESTS MADE MURDER OF ADMIRAL DARLAN (Roc. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Jan, 12. The French authorities in North Africa have arrested a group of men responsible for Admiral Dalian’s assassination. reports the Algiers correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System. A French official spokesman disclosed that the arrests were made yesterday after investigation had shown that the murder of Admiral Darlan was aided and encouraged by circles outside those already taken into custody. The spokesman added that tiie investigation was being conducted by a military tribunal consisting of five French officers, and was proceeding regardless of the prominence of the persons concerned. who would be formally arraigned and tried, with full legal representation, in accordance with French law. The spokesman explained that the new arrests resulted from the interrogation of persons arrested earlier, some of whom had already been released. CONFIDENCE IN VICTORY STATEMENT BY GENERAL GIRAUD LONDON. Jan. 12. ••Oui- victory is certain. It will probably be a long war, but the shortage of manpower which the German army is feeling will have its effect in the end.” declared the French High Commissioner (General Giraud), in a speech in Algiers upon his return from his West African tour. “Even last year, when Germany was marching from victory to victipry. German officers told me of their fears, ’ added General Giraud. GROWING UNREST IN BALKANS REPORTS REACHING NEUTRALS MORE DISORDERS IN BULGARIA (Rcc. (i p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 12. Evidence continues to accumulate of increasing unrest in the Balkans. Reports reaching Switzerland and Turkey say that trouble is arising chiefly over the continued heavy losses of the Balkan armies in Russia, food shortages. and the growing intrusion of German authority in various Balkan countries. The Istanbul correspondent of the Associated Press says: “As a result of rioting and revolt throughout Bulgaria Germany has threatened the Bulgarian Government that she will actively intervene unless the disorders are quelled This has resulted in renewed outbreaks. Students at the military college in Sofia forcibly occupied the college buildings for several days and then'fled to the mountains, where they have become guerrillas. "Several groups of Bulgarian soldiers succeeded in crossing into Turkey after learning that they might be sent to Russia, Telephone communication with Bulgaria is still cut.” Reuter’s Zurich correspondent says; “Many were killed and injured last week in rioting at Krajova, in Rumania. The casualties included police. The Rumanian hospitals are so packed with war wounded that the injured persons were accommodated in a maternity clinic from which many of the patients were removed.” The Ankara correspondent of the British United Press says: “Arrests continue in Rumania. Twenty were arrested at Braila, where a crowd demonstrated against General Antoncscu’s war policy.” Slovak Demonstration

Reuter’s Zurich correspondent says: “The German Ambassador strongly protested because a guard of honour was not provided when diplomats arrived for a New Year reception by the Slovak puppet Prime Minister (Dr. Tiso). It is revealed that the guard of honour was rushed to quell a disturbance outside the palace of the Archduke Friedrich, where a crowd was demonstrating, demanding news of husbands and fathers mobilised for service in Russia.” “The recent murders of M. Kiazam Kotsuli and M. Lcle Kolchi. the Minister of State and the Governor of the Valona district of Albania, have convinced the Italians that reconciliation with the Albanian patriots is impossible,” savs the Istanbul correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” “M. Kotsuli and M. Kotchi went into a guerrilla district to attempt to induce patriots to abandon resistance to the Italians, but the patriots immediately killed them. Patriots have since stepped up their warfarc’against the invaders. Several bombings have occurred at Valona. where Italian cinemas and a military club were razed by fire. Buifdings elsewhere in which Italians were housed were also burned, and numerous instances of sabotage arc reported.” The Ankara correspondent of the Associated Press says: “It is persistently reported that von Papen is shortly leaving Turkey permanently, because Germany regards his mission as having finally failed. Germany is very annoyed that Turkey, instead of breaking off her alliance with Britain, is showing increasing attachment to the Allied cause and faith in an Allied victory.”