Evening star., 1943-06-30
Manchester Guardian
AssaiIs U.S.. Dispatch
Denouncing De Gau||e
Kirke Simpson Story
Branded as Insult to
Fighting French Chief
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, June 30.-The Man
chester Guardian asserted in its
main editorial today that a dis
patch written June 27 by Kirke
Simpson Of the Washington staff
Of the Associated Press, discussing
the French political situation in
North Africa will be read by most
people here with astonishment and
displeasure."
The dispatch was widely published
in Britain. The London Times re-
ferred to Mr.. Simpson as lone of
the most experienced writer's of the
Associated Press" His dispatch.
based on information from highest
authorities, said:
The Washington government was
revealed tonight as ready to back up
Gen. Eisenhower, Allied supreme
commander in French Africa, to the
limit in whatever steps he may find
necessary to eliminate any threat to
success created by the political con-
troversy between Gems. Charles de
Gaulle and Henri Giraud, heading
rival French factions"
No Barrier Tolerated.
Referring to his authorities, Mr.
Simpson continued:
In presenting a summary of the
governments policy toward the
French political controversy in
North Africa, these authorities were
further able to state that the Wash
lngton Government expects Gen
Eisenhower to tolerate in North
Africa no De Gaullist or other
French activities which would in
any way:
i. Delay execution of projected
Allied aggressive military operations
In that theater.
2 Jeopardize Anglo-American-
and French-vital supply lines in
North and West Africa.
3. Undermine the morale of Of
flcers and men of the French forces
commanded by Gen. Giraud under
Gen. Eisenhower, or initiate against
their effective participation in the
projected trans mediterranean op-
erations."
Called Insult to De GauIe.
The guardian SAID:
The message sent by a COM
mentator Of the Associated Press of
America on the subject of the treat
ment OF the leaders at Algiers will
be read by most people here with
astonlshment and displeasure.
1T reads like gratuitous insult
to De Gaulle, to the Committee OF
National Liberation and to France
Its tone is that of reproof to a
number of tiresome and unimpor-
tant people engaged in trivial dis
| putes. ="
The French committee includes
men of distinction who have made
good progress toward settle
ment of difficult and complicated
problems" the Guardian said, add
ing:
Then suddenly the world is in
| formed that the Government of the
United States wants to make il
known that it will stand for no non.
sense from these fractions intriguers
and that the British government en-.
tirely agrees with that attitude. Few
will believe that the commentator i.
entitled to speak for the serious, of
fetal opinion of the United States
Fewer still will believe that the Brit.
ish government had anything to dt
with its publication
(On this point the Simpson dis
| patch said; although both Gen.
Eisenhower and Washington au-
thorities are standing strictly
aloof from French factional poll
tical wrangling precipitated by
De Gaulle and his adherents, full
British cooperation is assured.
whatever the effect on De
Gaulle's status or ambitions.
That was made plain today by
one informant whose knowledge
of the situation in French Africa
and all of its complex ramiflica-
tions can not be Questioned
Challenge to Self-Respect.
The Guardian continued:
ITO act as if France has forfeited
her right to manage her own affairs
to push her Committee of National
Liberation on one side, and to talk
as this message talks, of imposing
American discipline on French poll