POLITICAL MIX-UP

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1943, Page 5

POLITICAL MIX-UP

POSITION NO BETTER

TROUBLE OVER PEYROUTEN

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 22. Far from the political situation in French North Africa being improved, it has been worsened by the appointment of M. Peyrouten, who is heartily disliked in Britain and America. A chorus has been raised here demanding who appointed him, and much of his unsavoury past has been recalled, including his declaration on May 9, 1941: "Only madmen believe irv a British victory. The Axis is bound to win." The "Manchester Guardian's" diplomatic correspondent says: "It is difficult to escape the conclusion that Peyrouten's appointment is nothing less than a deliberate bid to forestall the very necessary reformation of French North Africa by establishing a situation which for one thing would make the unification of all the French forces fighting for the liberation of France very difficult to achieve. By entrenching adherents of Vichy behind the most prominent and influential positions their political preponderance would be assured. Peyrouten's appointment is certainly not without political significance. Responsibility for this step cannot be attributed entirely to the Allied military authorities, or to General Giraud." The "Daily Herald" says that Peyrouten's appointment is a political blunder of the first order, made in the teeth of warning and protest, and declares, "It makes nonsense of all we have been told of our intentions and purposes." STRONGER STAND NEEDED. I The more that is learned of the position in North Africa and the views and attitude of the Fighting French, the more it is felt that there will be no satisfactory outcome until Britain and America take a stronger stand. When General Eisenhower arrived in North Africa he found that, not having brought a group of trained people who could take over the civil administration—as do the Nazis when they enter a country—he had to" rely on French officials, who as a whole are men who preferred to save their skins instead of France, in 1940. What they desire now is to gain a position of importance so that after the war they can aspire to rule France. But neither Britain uor America desires to establish any group or person for this role; they want to ensure that freed France shall make its own choice. It is difficult to escape nausea. These politicians are squabbling among themselves instead of sinking their differences and getting on with the fight to free their country. It is also a fact that the Fighting French could be more helpful.