FRENCH UNITY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 4

FRENCH UNITY

GENERAL GIRAUD’S VIEWS ELECTING PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT (8.0. W.) ' RUGBY. May 9. A translation of General Giraud’s letter to General de Gaulle of 12 days ago has now been issued at the request of General Giraud’s French liaison mission in London. In this letter General Giraud proposed a meeting with General de Gaulle as soon as possible after May 5 at a town in North Africa. “Once our agreement is reached," said General Giraud, “we can return’ together to Algiers and begin work without reticence or reserve.” General Giraud noted “the interesting observations” made by the French National Committee in regard to his aide memoire of April 1, and said: “The annex to this letter answers these observations and contains proposals to resolve differences in regard to the settlement of the present situation. I have no doubt that we can rapidly reach an understanding on all these questions. As regards our personal positions I accept the proposal General Catroux made to me and include it in the annexed note.” General Giraud added; “There is one point on which our complete 'agreement is essential, namely that the French people from the moment of liberation should establish a provisional Government by legislative means which would have indispensable and legitimate political authority derived from the fact of its origin in law. In order that this fundamental problem might be solved the aide memoire of April 1 proposed to ensure a return to legality at the time of re-entry into France by leaving the appointment of a provisional Government to. an assembly of delegates from the Consuls General in conformity with the Trevenue Law of 1872.

“After studying the situation carefully I see no other way for France in agreement with its laws to return to normal and legitimate free regime. Since the National Committee has offered no objection to this course, I have no doubt of obtaining its full agreement on this question, which is at the same time a point of departure for our reunion and the goal of our common efforts. Consequently I consider one of the first acts of the council must be to address a proclamation to the people of France which will give a solemn undertaking to the nation to make it clear that the law of 1872 will be put into operation when French territory is liberated under the conditions set forth in my memo of April 1. "Our agreement on principles conforms with the spirit of the undertakings of our Allies to restore to France its integrity, liberty, and greatness.”