FRENCH UNITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 3

FRENCH UNITY

GENERAL GIRAUD'S APPEAL I ASSURANCES TO PEOPLE RUGBY, Mar. 14. An assurance that the right of the people of France to choose their provisional Government would be fully safeguarded immediately France’s liberation was achieved was given by General Giraud in a speech at Algiers. He also announced the abrogation of laws of racial discrimination, and made a new appeal for the wholehearted and effective union of all Frenchmen in France and outside. General Giraud said the people of France had never accepted the armistice. They were fortified by the heroic resistance of the British people, who were then fighting alone against the common enemy. The United States and England were putting forth their full effort in the war, and Russia was showing the world the greatest possible example of patriotism. “Be sure the French Army also knows how to fight,” he added. General Giraud spoke of the difficulties to be faced in North Africa. “ We shall set to work immediately to restore the situation in orderly fashion,” he said, adding that France would end the war as a victorious nation, so that when peace was freely discussed she would take her place in the discussions in full possession of her overseas territory. Unity, he said, was essential, and was a question of life or death for France. He was ready to co-operate with all those who accepted the fundamental traditional principles of France. The abolition of racial discrimination in North Africa was announced by General Giraud. He also abrogated the 1870 Crimiriieux status, under which native Jews automatically became French citizens. He added that he had substituted an Arab status, under which native Jews would be competent to take positive steps to acquire citizenship. General Giraud announced the acceptance of the Atlantic Charter. He gave a solemn pledge to the people of France that in all actions he regarded himself as a trustee under the laws of the republic.

Diplomatic Fighting French circles in London regard General Giraud’s speech with somewhat qualified optimism. The Fighting French hope that General Giraud’s assurances about the return of a Republican constitution for France may indicate the application of a Republican regime step by step in North Africa.