GIRAUD'S REFORMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 5

GIRAUD'S REFORMS

STILL ROOM FOR DOUBT

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, February 6. Algiers radio, broadcasting details of the "new order" in Africa, stated that an extraordinary three-day session of the Imperial Council has abolished the imperial Council and established a War Committee. There is no change in the personnel, but General Giraud has laid down specific provision for the entry of others, presumably de Gaullists. The War Committee has appointed General Giraud civil and military com-mander-in-chief in African France, to take charge of all vital interests of the country. The existing High Commissariat is superseded and administrative affairs will be under the charge of a Federal Government and a Resident-

General. The meeting also created a High Economic Council. "The policy of the War Committee is to make war in all areas possible, defeat the enemy, and liberate Africa I and France," it was stated. This policy of total war will not reach full efficiency except by a union of all French men. The policy of the commander-in- ; chief is, first, to unite all Frenchmen and then settle political quarrels. "It will be the task of France herself after she has regained her independence to lay down freely her political institutions. This necessary cohesion must be expressed by a strengthening of the ties linking the Government and the people of , occupied France with the fighting population of overseas France." ; The economic committee ' will meet every three months, and the war committee, whose members will be appointed by General Giraud, will meet once a month. During the conference decisions were taken to remove all political differences, establish the security of the Allied armies, secure the interior, and solve the racial problem. Several decrees have been published. Jews are permitted to enter the army, and the conference decided to return their confiscated property to Jews and allow Jewish children to attend the schools. Fighting French circles in London, commenting on General Giraud's new measures, stated that it is noted that the decisions were taken without agreement or consultation with General de Gaulle. They were not discussed at Casablanca. It is feared that the new measures mean a consolidation of the Petainist regime and the maintenance in power of the old Vichylte personnel. General Giraud's new regime, amounting to the formation of a provincial government by the federation of local authorities, is hardly likely tp facilitate the establishment of the enlarged national authority which the Fighting French, believe is necessary for the promotion of the French war effort. Fighting French circles say that General Giraud's announcement will not affect the plans for General Catroux, the leader in the Middle East, to visit General Giraud. A later report states that this meeting has taken place in Algiers.