DARLAN’S REGIME

Grey River Argus, 19 November 1942, Page 1

DARLAN’S REGIME

IN NORTH AFRICA A Military Necessity Only DE GAULLISTS HOLD ALOOF [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, Nov. 17. The Morocco radio says that Admiral Darlan has appointed M. Charges Ettori, Councillor of State in Algeria, as Legislative Councillor in the new legislative mid administrative council for French North Africa. Id. Gonnand. Director of Finance to the Algerian Governor-General has b':en appointed General Secretary of the Government in succession to M. Ettori.

The Paris radio announced that seven French officers had been shot for assisting General Giraud to escape. An officer has been attached to Lieut.-General Eisenhower’s headquarters since- the opening of operations in French North Africa to keep rhe British Government informed of political developments. A spokesman at General Eisenhower's headquarters said Admiral Darlan’s help had been accepted for strictly military reasons. It was desirable to have an agreement, to knen the Civil Service running smoothly while military operations were going on in Tunisia. General De Gaulle and the Fighting French National Committee refused to send representatives to North Africa as planned, says the “Evening News” political correspondent. It is pointed out in Fighting French circles that Darlan’s legislative council indicates an undersirabio measure of permanence. The Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr A.ttlee) was asked in the House of Commons about the position of Admiral Darlan in North Africa. He replied: “Negotiations have taken place between the Comm.ander-in-Chief and Admiral Darlan with regard to the immediate military situation in North Africa. It .is not possible to make a further statement on the matter at this stage.