Evening star., 1943-06-02
The AIqiers Accord

The AIgiers Accord
The agreement arrived at between
Generals Giraud and De Gaulle is
long step toward the attainment of
organic French unity; but, by itself,
it is not union. Rather is it work.
ing alliance between two factions for
the attainment of the goal they have
in common-the liberation Of the
subjugated French homeland through
a decisive defeat of the Axis enemy.
Each faction continues to maintain
its identity, though cooperating
through bipartisan executive COM
mittee which is not government
but board Of trustees for France
and It's Empire pending the time
when the French people can speak
and act for themselves, thereby
determining their own national
destiny.
This, in itself, is a realization of the
Giraudist thesis and vindication of
the aim OF our State Department, as
opposed to the attempt OF De Gaulle's
National Committee to constitute
itself as an interim government, rec
ognized as such by its allies and
with plenary authority over all
French territory not under Axis oc-
cupation. Indeed, that plan seems
effectively blocked by the agreement
that the future National Assembly
which will constitute the provisional
government of liberated France is to
be elected according to the old
Treveneuc Law of the Third Republic.
That law provides that the National
Assembly shall be elected from local
bodies known as the Conseils
Generaux. Those local councils, ap-
pointed before the war and composed
OF elderly men, are an assurance that
the future National Assembly will be
moderate to conservative in temper.
This does not suit De Gaulle's left
wing adherents, who want the Ma
tional Assembly to be elected by
direct popular suffrage, whereby
they would hope to be much more
largely represented. That is merely
one of several issues which will con-
tinue to be discussed, and perhaps
agitated, as the liberation of France
comes nearer to actuality.
The Executive Committee itself is
obviously compromise, rather me-
chanical in character. Giraud and
De Gaulle form what the Romans
would have called "duumvirate"-
each having equal authority and
exercising power alternately. The
actual committee numbers seven, the
balance-wheel being apparently Gen.
eral Catroux. Though a De Gaulle
appointee, Catroux is really the
architect OF the present compromise
and enjoys general confidence for
impartiality and long-range vision.
Some qualified observers in Algiers
report that he may soon emerge as
the strongest factor in the political
evolution, which is bound to take
place from now on.
That evolution, if it is to be fruit
full, should transform the leader
duumvirate and the undifferentiated
Executive Committee into something
resembling a premiership and de-
partmentalized cabinet, functioning
effectively and harmoniously, though
always mindful Of its basically pro-
vlslonal character and not seeking
to transform itself into government
IN the full sense of the term. This
will not be easy. Giraud and De
Gaulle are themselves not exactly
malleable personalities, while their
respective followings harbor old
grudges, rival ambitions, and in
compatible desires for place and pre-
ferment. Henceforth they will be
living and working together in
Algiers, the de facto capital of Lib
Grated France. Such proximity will
presumably engender both under
standing and friction, according to
the individual personalities con-
cerned. What the net balance will be
remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, this complex adjust
ment will take place under the aegis
OF their American and British Allies.
who both have vital interest in
seeing that the experiment succeeds.
Already, one important gain has been
the reconciliation of Admiral Code
troy and his feet long immobilized at
Alexandria, Egypt, to the United
Nations cause. That leaves in
transigeant Admiral Robert at Mar
Unique as the lone fence sitter-a
posture which he cannot long main
tain.