Evening star., 1947-05-23

Darlan and JUN began to talk simultAne-
ously. Their hands were tied They must talk
to Noeues as q matter Of military command.
honor and discipline; the order had not been
revoked--it had merely been suspended; they
really want to fight the Germans; Just give
them time to see Nogues. Darlan volunteered
the information that Nogues would arrive by
o'clock. In answer to my questions as to
whether Giraud would be In the conference
with Nogues, he said the first meeting will be
held by the people in power. We will notify
you OF the results" he pleaded.
Supreme Commander American.
Clark-"Who is in power and who will be In
power will be decided by the Allied Forces"
Darlan-"Who is going to commando"
Ciark-'The supreme commander will be
American. We will settle the French COM
mands later
Juin-"I suggest that Giraud be the military
commander from Dakar to Bizerte. And that
command Algiers."
Clark-"That is satisfactory to me provided
the necessary orders 60 forth to Tunisia."
Juin-"Now or after the meetings?"
Clark-"I mean now The Germans are
preparing to land in Constantine and Setif.
Your future depends on whether you do this
or not"
Juln-TlQlS puts me Ill pdA pooAtloii'
Clark-"It is spot Of your own choosing"
took some time out from tangling with the
French to inspect our 39th Combat Team in
the field. When I returned to headquarters.
Nogues had arrived. He came to my Office to
saw that as commander in chief by Petain's
order. he was entitled to a private conference
before the general session.
looked at him steadily for a moment and
then said: "I do not recognize you nor Petain
either" Nogues blinked and passed into the
general conference room to join my stah
officers, Mr.. Murphy, Admiral Darlan, Gen.
Graud, Gen. Mast and practically every other
important officer or oficial OF either side on
hand in Algiers at that time.
Wire Received From Eisenhower.
That night I had a wire from Gen. Eisen-
hover saving he would be in Algiers the next
day, Friday the 18th. 1t would be some relief
to me to have Ike on hand and to get some
appraisal of how our actions were being taken
by the world and, in particular, by the British
and American people
Early on the morning of the 18th reports
reached me that vichy, apparently desperate
at seeing the North African situation getting
away from them had sent Admiral Platon TO
Tunis to give personal instructions to Admiral
Esteva to cooperate with the Germans and
resist the Allies.
had to leave the meeting long enough to go
to the Maison Blanche Airport to meet Gen.
Eisenhower and Admiral Cunningham, who
few in together from Gibraltar in Bill.
On the jeep ride to Algiers, told the COM
mander in chief briefly what had been going on.
We decided that continue my talks with the
Frenchmen and Gen. Eisenhower would as
sumo rather distant position, being called
into the conference only after agreement had
been reached.
I was Iunching with Ike and Admiral Cum
ningham when word was brought that the
French officials were ready to report agree
ment.
In outline, the agreement was: Darlan would
head the civil and political government OF all
French North Africa; the present governors,
Nogues of French Morocco and Chatel OF Al
geria. would remain at their posts Giraud
would head the French armed forces, organiz-
ing a reinforced army to fight at our side.
Giraud was to be allowed to freely recruit vol
unteers from the regular French Army. but for
the time being Girauds appointment would be
kept quiet for political amity.
I thanked them for subordinating their per-
sonal differences in this agreement and brought
Gen. Eisenhower into the room. The COM
mander in chief shock hands all around,
apoIogized for the briefness Of his visit and In
dorsed all we had done.
IKE and then left for the airport 70 fly back
to Gibraltar.
fcupyrisht 1s47. b. Mark wayne Clark,
Distributes b North American Newspaper A1isnes