The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-27

tons and to cooperate in the eco
nomic and communications fields.
They agreed also on various minor
problems.
Agreement on military co-ordina-
ton, 1t was explained, did not mean
military fusion of Girauds forces,
now holding part of the Tunisian
line, and the Fighting French one
Of whose columns has reached
Tripoli after an astonishing march
through interior Africa.
Info Exchanged
The agreement provided only for
an exchange of information and for
consultations. For instance, in
formants said, If de Gaulle ordered
Gen. Jacques LIE Clerc, command
ing the Tripoli column, to carry out
certain operation he would in
form Giraud, and would in turn be
informed of any similar operation
ordered by Giraud.
1nformants said de Gaulle and
Giraud were unable to agree on
basic issues such as refutation of
the Vichy regime Of Marshal Henri
Philippe Petain and Pierre Laval,
restoration Of the laws Of the
French republic which Petain wrote
off the statute books, and creation
Of a single French authority in ex-
lie to represent France.
De Gaulle has insisted consistent
ly that these conditions are essen
tial to complete French collabora-
ton.
De Gaulle and Giraud expressed
to one another a strong desire to
bring about union, 1t was said.
This desire did lead to agree
ment on certain points which arise
out Of the common aid Of the lib
Grafton of France" an informant
said. "But basic political problems
remained not settled, not even
partly settled"
The London Daily Mirror pub.
lished today a statement by one
Of its correspondents that at one
point in the Casablanca conference
it was suggested that high rank
ing, VIGOROUSLY pro-Vichy" official
be brought into the talks but de
Gaulle refused to meet him or any
other Frenchman who had served
Vichy.
De Gaulle, back in London, is
sued the following statement:
II was very honored to meet
President Roosevelt in Africa.
Ellis friendship for France Is a
particularly comforting factor in
the struggle which the French
people are waging against the
enemy within and without its own
territory.
at was an equal satisfaction to
me to be able to renew CONVERSE
tons on this occasion with British
Prime Minister Churchill
Giraud Not Mentioned
De Gaulle conspicuously did not
mention Glraud or express salts
faction at having met him.
The French National Committee
which De Gaulle leads made the
following statement:
"On the occasion Of the inter-
Allied conference in Africa Gen. De
Gaulle, accompanied by Gen.
Georges Catroux and Adm. Thierry
D'Argenlieu, met Gen. Giraud in
French North Africa.
with a view to assuring unifica-
ton of war efforts of the French
empire and its forces on land, at
sea and in the air it was decided
that the necessary liaisons should
be established Immediately.
Moreover, in course Of the con-
versations preliminary examina-
ton was made of the conditions
under which French effort In the
war Of liberation could be devel-
oped, taking into account the new
situation In French North and West
Africa. Exchanges Of views Of this
subject viii be continued.
Complete union Of the empire
and Its armed forces, In conjunction
with the movement Of resistance in
France, to be accomplished under
conditions consonant with the will
and dignity Of the French people.
remains the immutable aim Of the
De Gaulle National Committee"
On the basis Of known facts from
reliable sources. the North African
political situation remains uEi.
changed.
DE 0aulle and osraud met.
talked and agreed on some points
which did not touch basic iasties.
thus leaving the situation much 90
a WAS before the CAaahIanca con-