French Administration

Grey River Argus, 22 January 1943, Page 5

French Administration

LONDON, Jan. 20. According to the British United Press, General De Gaulle was DOi consulted about M. Peyrouten s appointment as Governor-General o Algeria, and would not have appioved it if he had been. The “Daily Herald’s’’ _ diplomatic correspondent says: “It is suspected that the United States State Department was swayed by M. Peyi“ suave assurances and. persuaded General Giraud to appoint him. ’ Mr Eden, replying to a question m the House of Commons, said that the British and also the United States Government had lost no opportunity in impressing on the French authorities the importance they attached to the early release of all prisoners, ot whatever nationality, detained m North Africa on account of their sympathy with the Allied cause. Many of these political prisoners were aireadv released, but there must be a number of doubtful cases, and o vestigate these a mixed commission had l been se‘t u under (the joint chairmanship of the British am United States Consuls-General at Algiers. Arrangements were _» ein K made for the early release of Poles Czechs, Belgians and Russians many of whom were members of the toimei International Brigade. The R ussians would return to their own country as soon as transport could be arlaOutspoken criticism of the State Department’s handling of the pohtical field in North Africa is voiced by the “New York Herald-Tribune’s” commentator, Walter Lippmann. He describes the American Minister Mr Murphy, as a man lacking m detachment, who would readily take o the political colour of those with whom he associates. He added. T 1 e time has come to cease misleading the American public by pretending tne political situation, which is our entire responsibility, is muddled because of what has been said in London. Control is in Washington, and a decision must be made there to send a political representative of sufficient calibre to cope with the situation.”