WHY THE DELAY?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25552, 3 June 1944, Page 7

WHY THE DELAY?

VISIT OF GENERAL I® GAULLE

“POLITICAL HESITATIONS”

(Rec. 8 pjn.) LONDON, June 2. “ More and more people in Britain are asking what is causing the delay in General De Gaulle’s arrival,” states The Times diplomatic correspondent. “A difference of a week or a fortnight would matter little in ordinary times, but that now the invasion hour is approaching the need for a solid agreement on the civil administration of France becomes more urgent every day—and General De Gaulle and his fellow commissioners, who are the leaders of the only worthy military and political authority known to exist in France, are the only Frenchmen with whom an agreement can be reached.” “The public concern is increasing because the delay is believed to be caused by'political hesitations in London and Washington. Britain is commonly said to be unwilling to recognise the committee’s full authority in France without a move from Washington.” Referring to America’s non-partici-pation in the forthcoming AngloFrench talks, the Daily Mail, in a leader, states: “We seem again to be confronted with the same mysterious influences which tried to deny General De Gaulle’s claim to complete leadership. Our whole cause is now at stake, and we are justified in asking for the full co-operation of the State Department, especially in the matter of French recognition. France is our closest neighbour, and we shall need her after the war as much as she will need us. It would be tragic if cur relationship were embittered by AngloAmerican refusal to deal fairly with her now.” The leader asserted that the decision that General Eisenhower should supervise the Liberation Committee’s administration of liberated France was quite unfair, because he was already burdened with the biggest campaign in history.

“Even more important, this decision is a snub to the Liberation Committee, and suggests that the French are "incompetent to handle their own affairs. The statement that the committee may not be .representative will not bear analysis. General de Gaulle enjoys the support of the entire resistance movement. Anyway, there is no other body with which to work. What is the American objection to this committee? If they think it is not representative or improperly constituted, they should say so. Otherwise their attitude is inexplicable.”