Evening star., 1943-04-20
Giraud Plan Provides
Pre-Armistice Basis
To Reorganize France
Proposal Submitted to
De GouIle for Negotiation
Is Announced Here
BY GEORGE KENNEDY.

BY GEORGE KENNEDY.
France would have a new consti-
tuition after the war-the Third Re-
public not being revived as such
under the plan of Gen. Henri Gil
raud, French high commissioner of
North Africa, offered as basis of
his negotiations with Gen. Charles
de Gaulle, head of the Fighting
French in London. The plan was
given newspapermen at the Carlton
Hotel for publication today, simul-
taneously with its release in Algiers
and London, by Francois Briere,
former French consul at Boston
and now public relations officer for
the Giraud delegation in Washing
ton.
A previwe of the plan was given
last Wednesday in Algiers by Allied
sources.
1t calls for the immediate forma-
ton of French Council of overseas
Territories. The council would ex-
ercise national sovereignty and the
plan states unequivocally that Ger
tain territories, such as Martinique,
will have to submit without delay to
this authority"
Asked if this were in the nature
of an ultimatum to Admiral Georges
Robert, commander at Martinique,
who has continued to act as a pro-
consul for the Vichy government
and has been at odds with the United
States Government, Mr.. Briere said
he saw no threat in the language.
The French text was consulted and
found to be language that might
have been translated in softer terms.
Some one asked if the English copy
should be changed.
Memorandum to De Gaulle."
LET it stand,' said Mr.. Briere.
This is an official translation and
was made in Algiers."
There was no reference in the text
to Gen. de Gaulle except in the
title, Memorandum of April l Con-
corning French Unity, Transmitted
to Gen. de Gaulle by Gen. Giraud. -
AS the council is to be composed
principally of territoriaD governors
or residents and commissioners re-
sponsible for administration" it evi-
IDENTIFY would be an enlargement o,
the French High Commission for
North Africa, of which Gen. Giraud
is now the head. Gen. Georges Ca
troux of De Gaulle's staff has taken
it to London and has now returned
to Algiers.
An Immediate function of the
council, as planned, is to enable
France to take its place among the
United Nations and negotiate lease
lend arrangements with the United
States.
The plan would end the French
constitution of 1875. the charter of
the Third Republic, which has lasted
longer than any of those France has
tried since the French Revolution.
French leaders, Mr. Briere said,
agree that when France resumes as
a democracy it should have
stronger executive branch.
Follows 1871 Pattern.
The Giraud plan calls for the
same action in reorganizing France
as was taken after the Prussian con-
quest in 1871. The law of Febru-
airy 13, 1872 Ohe Teveneuc law will
be applied" the text states. This
law provides for the election of two
delegates to an assembly from each
of the 81 departments. The dele
gates would be elected by the repre-
sentative body of the department,
the Conseil General, but members
of the Conseil who have been COM
promised through their relation
with the enemy" will be excluded.
Except for such eliminations, the
Conseils would be reconstructed as
they stood on June %, 1910, the date
of the armistice with Hitler.
The assembly of the delegates
from the departments would form
a provisional government to repre-
sent France in the peace confer
ences. Military government would
end with the establishment of this
provisional government, for 1T will
have authority over the commander
in chief, and the council (of over
seas territories) will deliver its pow
ers to it."
The plan concludes, The assem-
bly, of the delegates will also
arrange general elections and
will specify that the National As
sembly to be elected will have the
task of establishing the new consti-
tuition of France"