FRENCHMEN UNITED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25241, 2 June 1943, Page 3

FRENCHMEN UNITED

ALGIERS • DISCUSSIONS NEW EXECUTIVE FORMED (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 1. “The third Republic is finished, and a new chapter has been opened in the political development of France,” says the Daily Mail, referring to the meeting of the French Central Executive Committee at Algiers. The committee is “ now in being,” though at present only seven of the nine members have been chosen. The Mail describes the committee as in other words a provisional French Government. The new committee met for the first time yesterday at Algiers.! Those present were Generals Giraud, de Gaulle, Catroux, and Georges, and MM Massigli and Philip Monnet. M. Monnet, diplomat and financier, was chosen chairman of the British-French Coordination Committee for the purchase of supplies on the outbreak of war. The Algiers correspondent of the British United Press says the first reports indicate that each member of the committee will be given special authority in various spheres. This •authority will correspond to portfolios in a normal Cabinet, in which members also have collective responsibility. It is understood that General de Gaulle is most anxious for the committee to have as many features as possible of a regular Government. General Giraud’s Position General Giraud’s position remains to be cleared up. He is at present both a member of the committee and com-mander-in-chief of the French forces in North Africa. It appears that he will retain both posts while he does not hold any operational command in the field. General de Gaulle is reported to be stressing the question of representation of the Executive Cpmmittee abroad. In the meantime the people of Algeria are enthusiastic about the committee’s meeting, which they regard as the real beginning of French unity. The Algiers correspondent of the Associated Press, says it is learned that General Giraud’s < greeting as General de Gaulle stepped from the plane was, “ Bonjour, ’de Gaulle.” General de Gaulle replied, “Bonjour, mon general,” thus recognising General Giraud as his superior in rank, •as “ mon ” before the rank is used when addressing superior officers. "A radical change has occurred in Algiers during the past 24 hours,” states an agency correspondent there. “For months” he says, “the town had been under the strictest censorship and the right of public assembly had. been suppressed. Prisons were still filled with political prisoners. Discussions and sometimes fighting were going on and families were divided. A father did not return home to lunch because of political differences in the family. The wife and daughter were for General Giraud and the sons for General de Gaulle. Life was unbearable. To-day they celebrated the union. _ „ . “ The name of General de Gaulle is still strictly taboo, but twice as many soldiers were wearing his medal under their capes to-day. General Giraud’s picture is everywhere in the papers, together with that of General de Gaulle. Only a week ago the latter’s London speech did not appear in the press but now the newspapers print General de Gaulle’s interview to war correspondents with flashing headlines and report scenes at the war monument and the formidable ovation the general received. To-night, at the corner of Central square, painters were finishing a huge sign, ‘ Liberty Egalite, Fraternite.’ ” Tremendous Moral Effect Referring to the executive committee, a correspondent says it will form the nucleus of the body which will manage the affairs of France at war. The moral effect on Frenchmen m North Africa has been tremendous. They have the feeling that something new has happened in North Africa. General de Gaulle has given an active assignment with the French air combat group to General Vuillemin, former commander-in-chief of the French air forces. General de Gaulle received General Vuillemin after his arrival in Algiers, and gave him his new coihmission with the rank of lieu-tenant-colonel. The accession by the Allied naval forces of the French squadron from Alexandria will be of psychological •value to the Allied cause and depressing to the .Axis, says. Reuter’s naval correspondent. It does not mean any immediate naval . gain. The move should be judged rather from a longterm viewpoint. None of these vessels could possibly be immediately useful as they have been lying immobile for three years. Although the machinery has been well looked after, it will be many months before the ships are battleworthy. The old battleship Lorraine has only a limited value.