FRENCH RADICALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25560, 13 June 1944, Page 6

FRENCH RADICALS

CONGRESS IN ALGIERS M. CHAUTEMPS EXPELLED RUGBY, June 11. The French Radical and RadicalSocialist Party held its first national congress in Algiers yesterday and today. among those present being representatives from Paris and other departments and many members of resistance groups. The congress unanimously expelled from the party M. Chautemps, who was twice Premier, and M. Bonnet, who was formerly Foreign Minister and Ambassador to Washington. The delegates unanimously adopted the text of General de Gaulle’s unity plea and cheered General de Gaulle for several minutes. M. Chautemps, commenting on his expulsion, said: “I am too old a politician to be surprised, but I protest strongly against the move. I accept no lesson in patriotism. I think my former colleagues have been informed incorrectly regarding my background activities here. If they knew what I am doing they would not act so.” M. Chautemps added that his activities would be clarified when France was free. What he was doing was all in the interests of the liberation cause and an Allied victory. “ I have no desire to lead the Government of liberated France. I am a private citizen, and I hope to return to France after its liberation as a private citizen. I have no interest in politics now. I am behind General de Gaulle as army chief, but as for future French politics. I am a free man. I await the future.”

M. Chautemps pointed out that he was proscribed by Vichy as two of his sons are serving with the Fighting French.