Evening star., 1943-07-08
Giruud Arrives

the most recent in the long list of
distinguished world figures to visit
wartime Washington. His heroic
background and his fine record OF
cooperation with us in North Africa
enhance popular interest in the spe-
cific reasons which have brought him
here at this particular time.
The primary object of his mission
Is military especially the expediting
Of up-to-date American equipment to
re-arm the French forces in North
and West Africa. today numbering
some 100000 and capable of expan-
sion to at least 100000. Those forces.
consisting largely OF well-trained
professional soldiers seasoned for
campaigning under Mediterranean
conditions obviously represent for
midable addition to the Allied war
effort in that entire region. Their
speedy rearmament and integration
with Allied grand strategy would, of
itself, justify visit by their COM
mander to confer with our supreme
war leaders. These military aspects
Of the mission are those which have
been officially emphasized. 1t has
been made clear that General Giraud
comes hither in his capacity as COM
mander of the French forces and will
be received as such.
Nevertheless, 1t is impracticable to
isolate purely military matters from
those political and diplomatic consid-
erations which so strongly affect
French cooperation with the Allies
in the war against the Axis. One Of
these is the effective liaison OF the
technically separate armies of Giraud
and De Gaulle with the Allied forces.
Those armies are still so sundered
in spirit as well as in leadership
that they probably could not yet serve
together without mutual damage to
efficiency and morale. But both have
their places in the overall strategic
picture, and their proper disposition
should be carefully worked out
Another important subject for dis
cussion is the status and authority of
the French Committee of National
Liberation set up at Algiers, the
craftsmanship Of which Giraud holds
Jointly with De Gaulle. The COM
mittee ardently desires recognition
by the American and British Gov
ernments as the legal trustees for
Frances rights and interests, and as
accredited spokesmen for France in
Allied councils. Washington and
London have thus far hesitated to
extend formal recognition to a body
50 divided within itself that it has
been unable to function properly and
has At times been threatened with
internal dissolution.
The problem becomes more press
ing with the impending collapse of
Admiral Roberts authority over the
French West Indian islands of Mar
Unique and Guadeloupe. That col
lapse has been hastened by American
economic pressure. The pro-Vichy
admiral has made no approach to the
Algiers committee and is dealing
solely with the United States. Yet it
is an open secret that the committee
is as opposed to an American occu-
patton of the islands as is Robert
himself and expects that it's repre-
sentative will take over the authority
which Admiral Robert feels impelled
to lay down. Indeed, the committee
hopes that this will prove the first
step in Allied recognition. Here we
have a diplomatic tangle which must
be carefully unraveled II the touchy
spirit of French nationalism, so
sharply revived during recent months
is not to be offended. to the damage
of all concerned.
Fortunately, General Giraud has
consistently shown himself to be pri-
marily a soldier animated by the
single minded desire to fight the
common Axis enemy and rescue his
country from Axis domination. With
such personality understanding will
be relatively easy, since our own Gov
ernment wants nothing better than
to eliminate politics from the discus
sion and get on with the war.
Giraud himself is good augury that
his mission will be constructive and