The Wilmington morning star., 1943-07-12
PROPAGANDA PLAN
SAID UNW0RKABLE
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is obvious that Mr.. Bess did not
get to North Africa without his
trip being arranged in Washing
ton, and it is equally obvious that
General Eisenhower did not open
his files to Mr.. Bess. rather than to
some other journalist or to all
journalists, except on instructions
from Washington.
Mr.. Bess has accordingly sung
for his supper. Nevertheless, being
competent correspondent. he has
tried to put down important in
formation which he found in the
files. AS a result, the world now
has for the first time some knoWl-
edge of the contents of the origi-
nal secret agreement between Mr..
Murphy and General Giraud. This
agreement was made one week be-
) fore the landing in North Africa
and while General Giraud was
still in France. Mr.. Bess is un-
doubtedly right in dwelling on this
agreement as essential to an un-
derstanding of the political as
poets of our policy in North Africa.
Mr.. Bess tells us that "our
agreement specified that we would
obtain General Girauds consent
before admitting any outside ele-
ments' to our African expedition
ary force. an obvious reference to
the British and to followers of
General De Gaulle'' Mr.. Murphy
made this commitment. in the
name of the United States govern
ment at moment when he knew
that the larger part of the first
African expeditionary force and
most of the naval force, already
embarked and at sea, was British.
Mr.. Bess insists on the charac-
ter of this commitment: 'The
Murphy -Giraud accord stipulated
that any expedition to French ter
ritory would be an essentially
American expedition, under Amer
lean command, with no participa-
ton of any outside elements,
French or otherwise 1t stated that
only after our landings, and by
agreement with the local French
and American authorities, would
it be permitted, in case of need,
that non-American allies ii. e. the
British) or outside French ii. e. the
Fiehting French) might be sent
into any of these territories"
Mr.. Bess says 'in making this
agreement, Murphy. of course,
acted on orders from Washing
ton.'
This revelation speaks for itself
The reader must consult his own
conscience as to whether the de-
ception of General Giraud was one
of those acts which must be ac-
cepted on the ground of military
expediency." But the reader should
know that this profoundly embar.
RAISING disclosure has been made
not by the critics of the admins
tration policy but by its own chos-
en- and speciality -privile eed news.
paper CORRESPONDENT. There are
other journalists who have known
for many months enough about
this secret agreement to know that
it was very embarrassing. They
have kept a discreet silence. and
did not ask for its publication, be.
cause they hoped and believed that
the embarrassment of the disclos.
ure could be avoided. But now
Mr.. Bess has spilled the beans.
The mess, for it is most un.
appetizing mess, can be cleaned
Up during General Giraud's visit
in Washington. The way to clean
it up is to stop at once the official
propaganda campaign for Giraud
against De Gaulle. After Mr.
Bess's disclosure this campaign is
nothing but stubbornlv danger.
Gus attempt to impose upon the
French nation the obsolete terms
OF the Murphy-Giraud agreement.
The effect of the campaign is to
injure General Giraud and to out
rage not only General de Gaulle
and his followers but General
Giraud and his followers, not to
mention the British, our other al.
lies, and the conscience of the
American people.
Having stopped the propaganda
campaign, the imperative thing to
do in the interest of every one is
to recognize the French Commit
tee OF National Liberation as the
sole trustee Of French interests
and the sole authority in French
affairs. Then, the next thing to
do is to treat with General Giraud
as the representative of that com
mlttee, and not as our appointee.
IN regard to measures which will
permit the French, as our allies
and not as our dependents, to
tram and equip a fighting army
1or their own liberation.
linen we could all make a fresh