Imperial Valley press., 1943-08-27
Red Recognition
OF French Total
lContinned from page ID

Continued from page II
abandon that designation, and that
henceforth there would be a single
representation.
That theory was also borne out
in Algiers where Rene MaSsigli,
committee commissioner, said too
much emphasis should not be put
on the restrictions because recog-
milton itself was the important
thing.
THE essential thing is that it
forms a basis for the future work
of liberation and l am happy te
see references to liberation in the
texts" Massigli said. They are to
be examined not for holes but as
constituting a basis for sincere
cooperation
The Russian action was interpret
ed here as a blanket endorsement
of the committee as a Gle facto
government. 1t said nothing about
a future French government after
France itself is liberated
In contrast, the British and
American statements both recog-
nized with sympathy" the COM
mittee's desire to be regarded as
the group qualified to insure the
administration and defense of (alD
French interests" but added:
The United States-"The extent
to which it may be possible to give
effect to this desire must, however,
be reserved for consideration in
each case as it arises"
Great Britain-'It is the inten-
ton of His Majesty's government
to give effect to this request as far
as possible while reserving the
right to consider in consultation
with the committee the practical
application of this principal in
particular cases as they arise
Mr.. RooSevelt'S statement recog-
nized the French committee as ad-
ministering French overseas terri
ritories which acknowledge its au-
thority. but specifically said that
it did not constitute recognition
of a government of France or OF
the French empire by the govern
ment of the United States" There
was no parallel to the latter in the
British statement.
1T does constitute" Mr.. Roose-
welt said, recognition OF the
French committee of national lib
Grafton as functioning within
specified limitations during the
war. Later on the people of
France, in free and untrammeled
manner, will proceed in due course
to select their own government and
their own officials to administer
it. =.
I'm view of the paramount inn
portance of the common war ef-
fort, the relationship with the
French committee of national lib
Grafton must continue to be sub
ject to the military requirements
of the Allied commanders"
The British statement made the
same qualifications, designating the
Allied military command as su-
preme in theaters of operations and
promising the French people free
choice of government after the war,
but it added to its acknowledge
ment on overseas territories, specific
recognition of the committees as
sumption of fighting French au-
thority in respect to territories in
the Levan-Near East.
The Canadian recognition en-
bodied all factors included in the
British statement. A few hours
after the Anglo-American-Candia
Russian actions we're made public,
radio reports were received OF
Brazils and Peru's recognition OF
the committee. China is expected
to follow soon.
Ten other countries already had
recognized it - Belgium, Holland.
Jugcslavia, Czechoslovakia, Uruguay,
Luxembourg, Greece, Norway. Mexi-
co and Poland.