The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-01-14

young aristrocrat who belor
Franchise" and can be presun
All the small details about tbs
person named check with tbs
mesger official statements about
the assassin. He was IN the early
twenties and had an Italian
mother.
II. however. the assassin came
from these circles one wonders
why the facts have been sup
pressed. The first questions, OF
course, are:
Are our authorities exercising
the censorship? Or is II the
French authorities And. If so,
who are the French authorities?
Apparently the initiative IN the
suppression came from French
authorities and our authorities, by
courtesy. elaborated. The head
of the civil authority in North
Africa is General Giraud. But the
general ix a newcomer in North
Africa, ne is not politically ex-
perienced and he depends upon
the Resident General Nogues snd
General Chatel, governor of the
colonies.
Now, H the assassin was a
Fascist sympathizer, one can
readily see why Nogues and
Chatel would wish the fact
suppressed. For they were
also Vichy men a short time
ago, and their administration
Ia full of them.
Early In 1912 Petain undertook
a purge In North Africa oustine
every known republican and pro-
ally official. OF course, some re-
manned, whose sympathies were
not so well known; for instance
General Berthouard, who is now
in America as the leader of q
military mission to arrange for
the transfer of more equipment.
But it is only by good luck that
he is here. for he Joined the Al
lies the moment they set foot on
French soil, was arrested. court
martialed, and sentenced to deats
by Nogues, and escaped only be-
cause the order to cease firing
was executed before he was.
was a Vichy mar. the natural
Vichy man, the natural
consequence of such a scandal
would be a great shake-up in
North Africa, and the removal
of Vichy people from posts Of
authority. The question Is: are
not most of the officers Vichy
men?
Unless / am wrongly informed
the answer is no. Not more than
ten per cent of them are. Nine
tenths of them would follow any
good French leadership.
Actually, they and their men
are fighting in Tunisia, in much
larger numbers than there are
Americans and British, and with
great bravery despite the lack OF
modern equipment.
It also seems that the expla-
nation of why Darlan was chosen
in the first place as civil admin
istrator Ia not adequate. We are
told it was to save lives. But the
cease fire order apparently was
made two days before we made
the agreement with Darlan.
So Darlan was installed, and we
believed that things would &c
more smoothly with him. and MS
sudden removal was a great en-
barrassment. II was a proof that
Fascists are not won over Just
by winning over one of their
leaders-if a Fascist committed
the crime.
But If the assassin was an anti.
Fascist, 1t is proof that we can
not quench the hostility to Fascism
by enlisting Fascists IN our ranks
1t rs quite understandable that
General Giraud could not oper
all the concentration camps as
long as North Africa is In the
hands of a Fascist or Para-Fascist
administration.
Apparently, General Giraud
has no political base to stand
on at ali except the one Of
French unity" which does
not exist, and which. indeed.
no steps have been taken -
create. Up to now, he has re-