Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-08
Murphy, Macmillan
Deny Differences on
Political Questions
Neither U. S. Nor Brituin
Objected to Peyrouton
Appointment, They Soy

By the Associated Press
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
NORTH AFRICA, Feb. S.-Robert
Murphy, United States Minister, and
Harold Macmillan, British Resident
Minister. declared at joint press
conference yesterday that there were
no differences between them or their
governments on political questions
in North Africa.
Discussing delicate North African
politics and negotiations between
Gems. Henri Giraud and Charles de
Gaulle, Mr.. Murphy declared that
neither the United States State
Department nor the British Foreign
once had offered any objections to
the appointment of Marcel Peyrou-
ton as governor general of Algeria.
The appointment has been widely
criticized because Of M. Peyrouton' S
attachment to the Vichy regime.
Indicating that Gen. Giraud's
re-shuff1ing of the North African
regime is being extended to the
military command. a Reuters dis
patch to London from Algiers
yesterday said it was expected
that Gen. Koeltz would succeed
Gen. Alphonse JUN as COM
mander in chief of French forces
under Gen. Giraud. Gen. JUN is
q former Vichy commander in
chief in North Africa. Gen.
Koeltz participated in Allied war
councils in Paris and London
prior to the armistice. In l94l
he was named commander in Al
geria, and lately he has been a
French commander on the Tu-
nissan front.
(The Reuters dispatch said
Gen. Barre, the former Vichy
commander in chief in Tunisia,
who went over to the Allies last
November after rejecting two
German ultimatums, would be in
direct command on the Tlnisian
front and that Gen. JUN would
be sent to the rear to organize
. French armored force for even
tual use in invading EuropeD
Explaining how M. Peyroutons
appointment was made, Mr.. Murphy
said:
''Peyrouton's appointment was re-
quested by Giraud on the grounds
that he was an able administrator
and knew North Africa. It was ap-
proved by Gen. Eisenhower CIT. Gen.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Allied COM
mander in chief. The State De-
partment and the British Foreign
ONCE were kept fully informed and
neither made any objections. If they
had, the question probably would
have been reopened. although Eisen-
hover had full power to overrule
them"
The State Department as q matter
Of fact had been asked and did
expedite NJ Peyrouton's departure
from South America for North
Africa, Mr.. Murphy said.
Complete harmony exists between
myself and Mr.. Macmillan, and We
are working together" he added.
He warned that there was no
~cure- for North Africa's political
Ills, but expressed the conviction
that If given tint, Gen Giraud
would remov9sQV etlres of the
Kichy regime In North Affica winch
dere considered undesafablA ind UNI
democratic by Britain and the
United States. M
TT must be remembered that we
are not here to impose our political
will upon this country" he con-
tinued, while Mr.. Macmillan nodded
agreement. such a course, / am
sure, would be distasteful to the
and British public"
He then cited several moves by
Gen. Giraud in the last week in
restrictions on Jews and
releasing political prisoners as show
Ing 4 trend away from Vichy stand
ards and Axis policies.