BIG CHANGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25504, 6 April 1944, Page 5

BIG CHANGES

FRENCH ADMINISTRATION LONDON, Apl. 4.

Big changes have been made in French administration in preparation for the Allies’ invasion of Europe. An Algiers message reports that General de Gaulle becomes head of the armed forces, with power to decide their composition, organisation, and employment. Two Communists, M. Fernand Grenier and M. Francois Billoux. enter the Committee of National Liberation, M. Grenier as Commissioner for Air and M. Billoux as State Commissioner. An old friend of General de Gaulle. M. Andre Diethelm, becomes Commissioner for War, replacing M. Andre Letroquer, who is reported to be in disagreement with certain generals. M. Letroquer becomes principal delegate for the administration of home territories as they are freed.

A special meeting of the National Committee unanimously conferred the new powers on General de Gaulle, who henceforth will control the General Staff. The committee generally favours a reshuffle, especially the coopting of Communists, which meets the wishes of patriots within France. This is the first .time in French history that Communists have agreed to enter the Government. M. Grenier and M. Billoux issued a statement promising to subordinate everything to the war effort. “We place ourselves under the watchful and permanent control of the people of France,” they declared. They are both former deputies.