GENERAL DE GAULLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25565, 19 June 1944, Page 6

GENERAL DE GAULLE

VISIT TO WASHINGTON “IF CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT” WASHINGTON, (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) June 18. General de Gaulle ha s advised President Roosevelt that he hopes to arrive in Washington late in June or early in July if circumstances permit. If General de Gaulle comes, says the American Associated Press, he will probably be accorded the full honours and courtesies due to a visiting dignitary, but nothing will be done to imply United States official recognition of the Provisional Government. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that the British and American Governments are reaching the show-down stage in the controversy with each other and with General de Gaulle over the recognition of the French Provisional Government. The British Cabinet is split on the issue. Mr Eden strongly urged recognition, and Mr Churchill over-ruled him, not because he disagrees with Mr Eden’s promise that Britain cannot afford to antagonise the de Gaullist faction in France, but because he does not want to act'without Washington. Mr Roosevelt has taken the view that, while he recognises Mr Churchill’s difficulties at home, he cannot recognise a self-proclaimed Government which may, or may not, have the support of the French people. Mr Roosevelt argues that such an act might win the goodwill of General de Gaulle at the risk of the goodwill of the French people.