NEW FRENCH REGIME

Grey River Argus, 9 February 1943, Page 5

NEW FRENCH REGIME

IN NORTH AFRICA M. Peyrouton’s Plans FAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Rec. 8.40) LONDON, Feb. 8. The London “Times's” correspoiuent at Algiers says: M. Peyrouten, Governor-General of Algiers has been deeply perturbed by criticisms of him in the House of Commons and in the British press. M. Peyrouten, in an interview, recalled, that, following on the armistice in I rance in 1940, when he was himself on a special mission to Tunis, he had broadcast that, although France had momentarily peen defeated, her empire remained intact as the guarantee of her future revenge. He had also said then that the time had not arrived to take up fighting in Africa, because there were not sufficient men and materials in the country for this; but that, later things would change allowing Allied forces to make Landings on a’ great scale.

M. Peyrouten added: “General (Gfijaud’s arrival made possible the resumption of the war which, since October, 1940, had been planned by a group of Frenchmen who had remained in France for that one purpose.” M. Peyrouten said: “I do not wish to be anything more than administrator in Algiers, I bring with my African experience, a sincere desire for the union o f Frenchmen, and above all, a complete determinal.on to carry on the war.” M. Peyrouten proposes to seek advice on hon-political elected bou.es of professional men whom he proposes to summon. For example, he proposes a permanent War Economy Committee, composed of former members of the Chambers of Commerce a'nd of Agriculture. 1 his “Algerian Parliament” will discuss and vote an Algerian budget. M. Peyrouten admitted that such consultative bodies would not conform to the peace-time idea of representation by popular election, but he points out that, this is wartime, and that those who are called in, will be selected solely for their ability and efficiency. M. Peyrouten refuses, mr the same reason to embark on any purge of his administration on political grounds. “I demand complete devotion to the Allies' cause. I snail not hesitate to dismiss recalcitrants, he declared. Peyrouton Approved BY BRITISH AND U.S. FOREIGN OFFICES. (Rec. 8.40.) LONDON, Feb. 8 M. Peyrouton’s appointment as Governor-General of Algiers, was approved by both the United States State Department and the British Foreign Office. This was disclosed by Mr Murphy (the United States Minister in North Africa) to a press conference at Algiers. He said General Eisenhower had had the final power of disapproval, but neither General Eisenhower nor the British or the American Foreign Office officials, who regarded the appointment purely as an internal French matter, registered the slightest objection to M. Peyrouton. Mr Murphy said that no Allied pressure was being exerted to speed up a complete Governmental union as between General Giraud and General de Gaulle. “We believe in giving them time to work out their own solution,” h e said. “It is a French problem. We cannot force it.” PEYROUTON’S QUALIFICATIONS. (Rec. 12.10.) LONDON, Feb. 8. Mr. Murphy U.S. Minister in North Africa, informed the Press Conference that General Giraud had requested M. Peyrouton’s appointment on the ground that he was a capable administrator, who knows North Africa. “We certainly have not jammed M. Peyrouton’s appointment down anyone’s throat,” added the Minister. Mr. MacMillan, British Minister in North Africa, who was present, nodded in agreement, saying: “There has been a very healthy improvement m the North African political situation.” Mr. Murphy revealed that the Germans recently had arrested the wives of General Giraud and General Bergeret. In France. ALGIERS Feb General Catroux has arrived and has conferred with General Giraud on the question of taking a high post in the new North African Government. He is expected to remain nere permanently, after returning from Syria, whence he is now en route. One source described General Catroux’s prospective role as “neutraliser” between General Giraud ana General De Gaulle. Allies Use FOR NORTH AFRICA. AS A SPRINGBOARD. (Rec. 12.40.) LONDON, Feb 8 The British Minister, Mr. Harold MacMillan, said at Algiers, yesterday, according to a correspondent attached to the Allied Headquarters, that the Allies came to .North Africa to "use it as a convenient jumping oft ground to beat the enemy. He; also referred to lessons learnt in Nortn Africa, which, he thought, would bo extremely valuable when “we make our landing in Europe.” He revealed what economic ussistance the Allies were giving the French in North Africa. He stated that already thirtyfour thousand tons of various commodities. including sugar, soap, flour, rice and cheese had arrived from Britain for use of the civil population. Two hundred thousand yards of cloth and two hundred thousand tons of coal had also been brought out for military and civil use. Large convovs, too, were bringing supplies from America. The Allies, Mr. MacMillan, added were now getting supplies of phosphates and iron from North Africa.