COUNCIL SET UP

Grey River Argus, 7 June 1943, Page 5

COUNCIL SET UP

BY THE FRENCH

In North Africa

A NEW AGREEMENT.

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, June 4

The French Central Executive Committee reached a full agreement at this morning’s session. A French Committee of National Liberation has been constituted. The Committee of National Liberation will be the same as previously agreed upon. It at present consists of seven —Generals Giraud and De Gaulle (Presidents) and Georges, Catroux and Massigie, M. Andre Philip and M. Jean Monnet. Two other members selected by General Giraud, Massigie and Philip were selected by General De Gaulle. General Giraud and De Gaulle both accepted General Catroux. The Committee .of National Liberation is the central French authority. It directs the French war effort in all forms everywhere and it assumes the care and defence of all French interests in the world. It assumes power over all territories outside tne power of the enemy, and over all land, sea and air forces, which so far have been placed under the French National Committee, or civilian and military under General Giraud. AH measures necessary! to bring about a fusion of these two bodies will be taken immediately. In accordance with letters exchanged between General Giraud and General De Gaulle, the Committee will place its powers in the hands ot a Provisional Government, which will be constituted according to the laws of the Republic, as soon as liberation of metropolitan France permits, and at latest, when the total liberation of France is achieved, lhe Committee will pursue in close collaboration with all the Allies the common struggle for the complete liberation of France and Allied territories, until the final victory overall enemy Powers is won. The Committee solemnly undertakes to restore all French liberties, the laws of the Republic and Republican regime by entirely? destroying the regime of arbitrary and personal power which to-day has been imposed on France. The Committee calls upon all Frenchmen to follow it in order that France may, through the struggle to victory* once more regain ner liberty greatness, and traditional place among the great Allied nations, and that at the peace negotiations she may be able to make a contribution to the counsel of the United Nations, which will determine the condniois of Europe and the .world after the war. General Bourquet has been appointed Commander of rhe AirForces in North and West Africa, in place of General Meneral Mendigal. who has been relieved of his comGeneral De Gaulle, cn behalf of the Fighting French, stressed satisfaction with the unity which has been realised. The Associated Press Algiers correspondent says: Political quarters state Gabriel Pauaux, former High Commission in Syria, will succeed General Nogues as Resident General in Morocco. Reuter says: The agreement still does not solve the question of Giraud’s status as Commaoder-in-Lfiiei as there is the problem ot the two existing armies. LONDON, June 4. The new French Committee of National Liberation met again this morning and this evening the joint presidents, Generals De Gaulle and Giraud, delivered short messages to Frenchmen over the Algiers radio. The men ‘ and resources of the French Empire were behind the United Nations, said General De Gaulle. They were determined to continue the struggle until France had been set free ‘ General Giraud told how the French Army in North Africa had been built up. The French people at home were waiting for the world to rise, he said, and France had taken again her place in the ranks of the United Nations. . . «A News Agency message stated. Members of the French Chamber ot Deputies now in Algiers are meeting this afternoon to reconstitute tne Chamber which was dissolved by Marshal Petain and M. Laval. According to the message Generals De Gaulle and Giraud will address the meeting and General Catroux also will be present.

giraud retains leadership. LATEST AGREEMENT. (Rec. 7.10). RUGBY, June 5. A successful outcome of protracted negotiations between Generals Giraud and De Gaulle has been symbolised in the joint appearance ot tne two leaders before the Aligers micr - phone yesterday. The result is widely appreciated in the British press. Coupled with relief at the removal o f an embarrassment to the Allied cause is a recognition of the positive importance of such a definite ie PL It aC appears‘ from a further Agency message, received late to-night, the French Deputies did not meet today, and that a report of their coming meeting was due to an error. The Associated Press Algiers correspondent stated: It is reported Generals De Gaulle and Giraud reached a new compromise under which General Giraud remains Commander-in-Chief of the French Army, m ret’lrn for a number of concessions to General De Gaulle. It is stated these concessions involve the replacement of a number of high officers with the Fighting French Generals. It is suggested that General Giraud s command will be mainly at nead. quarters, not extending to the- nelcl. 1 The Exchange Telegraph s correspondent at Algiers reported: French Executive Committee were t 0 havu met to consider two important qutstions. The first was whether it would be possible for one man to hold both civil and military appointments. This obviously concerned General Giraud, who is Commander-m-Chief of the Army, and als 0 civil chief Secondly, it was to have considered other important appointments. NEW YORK. June 5The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says: In spite of an official statement at Algiers indicating that; the union of the French factions bore the air of finality observers here predict a prolonged and very French drama. Official circles feel that . neither General Giraud nor General de Gaulle speaks for France, but that th e eventual leaders will emerge from occupied France, and will not; be Generals.

GEN. NOGUES FOR UNITY. ~LONDON, June 6. Aimers radio announced that M. Gabriel Pauaux, former High Commissioner in Syria, has succeeded General Nogues as Resident-General in iv-O-rocco. The latter has formally reradio states: General Nogues, who is (being _ replaced by General Pauaux as Resident-General in Morocco, has issued a proclamation raying that he is happy. that nis resignation should facilitate an entente between Frenchmen thus contributing to their liberation. He has appealed to all the Moroccans to. support his successor.