Evening star., 1943-06-04
Trogi-Comedy at AIqiers

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If the larger consequences were not
so serious, the unseemly brawling
between the French factions headed
by Generals De Gaulle and Giraud
would furnish what playwrights term
comedy relief" to the grim drama of
the worlds worst war. The tragi-
comedy now being played at Algiers
makes cynics grin and the Axis laugh,
but it is calculated to draw tears from
truly patriotic Frenchmen and lovers
of France everywhere. Revealing as
it does the depths of partisanship
which still divides the French despite
all their misfortunes, 1t augurs i'll for
the achievement of that genuine
unity of minds and hearts which is
the vital prerequisite for a restora-
ton of France and its empire in
more than name.
The closer the details of current
events at Algiers are studied, the
more disquieting do they appear.
After months of wearisome negotia-
tions, conducted between intermedi-
aries of Giraud and De Gaulle with
the benevolent solicitude Of the
American and British Governments,
a compromise agreement was drawn
up. The rival factions did not merge.
Their identities were preserved. But
they were to cooperate to further
the aim they have in common. which
is the liberation of the subjugated
French homeland through a decisive
defeat Of the Axis enemy. The me-
dium OF collaboration is a bipartisan
executive committee, functioning,
not as a government, but as a board
Of trustees for France and its empire
pending the time when the French
people can speak and act for them
selves, thereby determining their own
national destiny.
That, at least, was the concept
specified in the agreement. 1t rep
resented the view of our State De-
partment and also of General Giraud.
But it was not the idea of General De
Gaulle and his self-styled National
Committee" who have consistently
tried to erect themselves into a real
provisional government, recognized
as such by its Allies and with virtu-
ally sovereign authority over all
French territory not under Axis occu-
patton. Also, such regime would
obviously play large part in deter
mining the course of Frances recon-
struction after its liberation. That
scheme was, at least technically.
blocked by the terms of the bi-par-
tisan agreement under which the two
factions should have equal represen-
tatlon on an executive committee
presided over alternately by Giraud
and De Gaulle with equal authority.
Such balanced "condominium"
could work harmoniously on only one
condition-that the leaders and their
followers had resolved to adjourn
their political aims and ambitions in
the Immediate task Of fighting the
Axis. That spelled genuine meeting
OF minds. But. from the instant
General De Gaulle landed by plane
at Algiers airport, he showed that he
had not really renounced or COM
promised any Of his political aspira-
tions. Every word and act showed an
aggressive determination to put him
self over Giraud and master the
situation.
This fragrant breach of the agree
ment not only infuriated Giraud but
also alienated General Catroux, De
Gaulle's ablest and most statesman
like supporter, who had been the real
architect Of the agreement itself. For
a moment 1t looked as though even a
pretense of cooperation was impos-
sible. Then Messers Murphy and
Macmillan, the American and British
diplomatic representatives at Mgiers,
seem to have got busy, and the exec
utive committee met on schedule.
However, it would be highly optimis-
tic to believe that much can really
result from its deliberations unless
the factional spirit behind it can be
somehow transformed.
Should this unhappy quarrel per-
sist, the chances are that America
and Britain. will be obliged to take
matters more or less into their own
hands. Although the Axis has been
expelled from North Africa, it re-
mains a vital Allied base of opera
tions. French factionalism cannot
be allowed to interfere with military
necessities.