Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-02
Free French Charge
Prison Policy BaIks
Accord With 6iraud
Spokesman for Delegation
Here Says Friends Of
De GuulIe Still Held
By BLAIR BOLLES.

Political cooperation between
Gen. Charles de Gaulle. leader OF
the Fighting French, and Gen. Henri
Honore Giraud, French commander
in North Africa, Is out Of the ques-
ton as long as the North African
prisons hold men who have been
cooperating with the De Gaulle
movement In the past, 1t was clear
today from an oficial statement
by the Fighting French delegation
in Washington.
Jean Baube, spokesman for the
delegation. said the North African
prisoners now include men who as
sisted the American and British
landings in Morocco and Algeria.
In this category Mr.. Baube included
the - men arrested early in Janu-
airy as plotters against the lives OF
Gen. fraud and Robert Murphy,
President Roosevelt's representa-
tive In North Africa.
Mr.. Baube, releasing two letters
confirming Imprisonment reports
struggled out Of North Africa by the
underground. said he was appealing
to American public opinion to
demand support for the policy
enunciated on November II by Presi-.
dent Roosevelt, who on that date
urged the liberation of the North
African political prisoners. Mr..
Baube said he was giving out the
letters in view Of the ofYicial relaxa-
ton Of censorship on political news
out Of North Africa.
Reports Others Freed.
The De Gaulle representative said
the Fighting French had released all
political prisoners in territories they
have taken-Syria, Lebanon, Somal-
iiand, Reunion and others-and that
the British released the political
prisoners In Madagascar before the
Fighting French were given control
Of that island. In Tripoli, he said.
Fascist leaders have been arrested
and the friends Of the Allies re-
leased.
so under the present circum-
stances" he said, 1T is obvious why
there could be no political agree
ment between the Fighting French
and North Africa. Some Of the
stories from North Africa seem to
blame us for the split. We stand 100
per cent behind the view taken by
our great leader. President Roose-
welt.
Most Of the political prisoners
have been and are your true Allies.
They are in prison because they
have been trying to keep the torch
OF resistance going against the die
tatorship In North Africa imposed
by the vichy representatives"
Mr.. Baube termed this m 'in-
justice which helps ''the Axis
agents who are still Ia North Africa. |
because It makes total cooperation
among the people impossible. He
added:
This has its effect on France,
where the brothers and sisters In
spir3t Of the patriots in North Africa
re watching to see what the Allies
10 IN North Africa, watching for
words and not deeds.
Qutslings Reported Watching.
IT Is \ question not only In
rance. but also in the occupied
because 1t is not only 4
trench. but also q European prob
I'm. Quislings all over Europe are
nxious TO find out what kind OF
cal is going to be made when the
evasion starts.
The landings took place three
1onths ago. That is 4 long time
or those behind bars and those
in the occupied lands. We
aay be patient on this side Of the
Itlantic, but they may, not be 30
atient over there.
In appealing to American public