GENERAL GIRAUD AND FRENCH FORCES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 165, 10 April 1944, Page 5

GENERAL GIRAUD AND FRENCH FORCES

Denial Of Resignation

LONDON, April 7. An official statement from General Giraud’s headquarters in Algiers formally denies that he has resigned as Com-mander-in-Chief of the French Armed Forces. (It was announced on April 4 that General de Gaulle had been ap pointed head of the French armed forces). The Algiers correspondent of the British United Press quotes a source close to General Giraud as saying that if the general should cease to be commander-in-chief it would be because he was dismissed.

Reuter’s Algiers correspondent says that the Committee of National Liberation offered General Giraud a post as inspector-general of the French forces, but that he refused to accept any reducfion of his powers. His refusal of the position led to a rumour that he had resigned, but that the resignation had not been accepted. Negotiations are going on about the precise powers which can be conferred on General Giraud. General de Gaulle has left for a visit to Morocco, and General Giraud’s position will not be decided till General de Gaulle returns. President Roosevelt indicated at at Press conference in Washington today that he is still not ready to recognize the de Gaulle regime. He said that the whole matter boiled down to a definition of self-determination, and asked: "How do we know how the people of France feel?” INSPECTORAJENERAL Giraud Appointed LONDON, April 9. 0 The United Nations radio in Algiers today announces that General Giraud has been appointed Inspector-General of the French Armed Forces.