HC Deb 03 February 1943 vol 386 cc867-70
6 and 7. Mr. Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what steps are now being taken to purge the North African administration of Fascist and pro-Fascist elements;

(2) what steps have so far been taken to release De Gaullists and other anti-Fascist prisoners in North Africa; and what estimated number of such prisoners are still detained?

8. Mr. Bowles

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the resolutions passed by the Dunlop Rim and Wheel Company, Limited, shop stewards and the Coventry East Branch of the Association of Engineering and Shipbuilding Draughtsmen, copies of which have been sent to him, asking for the removal of M. Peyrouton and all other pro-Vichy elements from the Government of French North Africa, and for the establishment, at the earliest possible moment, of a government capable of winning the support of the French people; and what action he proposes to take?

Mr. Eden

I apologise for the length of the answer. I have seen the resolution to which my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Bowles) refers. I would point out to my hon. Friends that these are French territories and that General Giraud's administration is a French administration. It is not a French Government properly so-called, nor a[...]provisional, nor even a prospective Government, but it is for the time being responsible for the administration of certain parts of the French Empire. The prime responsibility in these matters rests, therefore, upon Frenchmen, and the first interest of the United States Government and of His Majesty's Government is to see that everything possible is done by this French administration to promote the Allied war effort in these territories. I am glad to say that the Allied Commander-in-Chief is receiving full collaboration in every sense from the French administration and that the troops under General Giraud's command are playing their full part in the fighting in Tunisia.

The problem of administering a territory like North Africa, with its mixed population, is not an easy one, particularly at a time when military operations are still going on in the territory. Nor is it easy to adapt for purposes of war the administration of a territory which has been out of the war for two and a half years. Nor can we expect that the deep cleavages between Frenchmen can be easily bridged.

But already important progress has been made. The House will have seen the joint communique issued by General de Gaulle and General Giraud after their meeting at Casablanca and the official statements issued by them on their return to London and Algiers. General de Gaulle and General Giraud are to exchange liaison missions to carry still further the contacts established between them at Casablanca. His Majesty's Government welcome this development.

So far as the release of political prisoners is concerned I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 20th January, when I announced the setting up of the mixed Commission. But hon. Members will have seen the public statement about his policy in internal matters recently made to the Press by General Giraud at Algiers. General Giraud as made it clear that in his view there is only one political test to be applied in North Africa. It is that, whoever the individual may be, and whatever his political views may have been, he should be prepared to fight and to work against the common enemy. I do not think that hon. Members would ask for a better test than this. In this same interview General Giraud is reported to have said: The British are right to support De Gaulle. He is the only Frenchman who has spoken for two years with the voice of France. Despite the many difficulties, it is true to say that a start has been made both for the reconciliation between Frenchmen and for the readjustment of internal conditions in North Africa. Much yet remains to be done, and in neither respect is the situation as we should wish to see it. But we must realise that these are problems which can best be solved by Frenchmen.

In these matters there is no difference of policy between His Majesty's Government and the United States Government. Both Governments wish to see the maximum effort put into the military campaign, and for this purpose wish to see unity in all ranks of Frenchmen who are willing to fight the Axis. Both Governments wish to see the traditional freedom that has flourished on French soil once more re-established both in North Africa and in France itself. For this very reason they are agreed that nothing must be allowed to distract them from the first and imperative duty of developing the maximum military effort upon which all else depends.

Mr. Parker

In view of the fact that the men who were previously in command of the military forces in Syria fighting us are now in charge of military affairs in North Africa, how does the right hon. Gentleman expect to get full co-operation from them in the fight against Hitler?

Mr. Eden

I invite the hon. Member to look fully at the statement which General Giraud made and which was reported in the "News Chronicle" on 1st February. I think he will see there what is being done, and for my part I can only repeat that I think we should give these arrangements the best chance to work out, and we should give to Frenchmen the best chance to come together.

Mr. Bowles

Do the Government agree that the people are not fighting this war in order to make the world safe for Girauds to live in?

Mr. Eden

General Giraud is an extremely gallant French soldier. I should feel very proud if I had his record in fighting Germany.

Mr. Ammon

Does not the right hon. Gentleman's answer really indicate that we are trying to be on two sides at the same time and are fighting Fascism with Fascism?

Mr. Eden

What it indicates is that we are doing our utmost to bring about the unity of Frenchmen who want to fight the Germans.

Mr. Shinwell

Does my right hon. Friend realise that there is a very strong division of opinion in this country and in the United States of America on this matter, and that many of us will not be enthusiastic about events in North Africa until we are satisfied that the pro-Vichy elements are eliminated in the first instance, and that political prisoners who are in prison because they opposed the Vichy Government are released? Does the right hon. Gentleman understand that?

Mr. Eden

Of course, I understand that there are divisions of opinion in this country and in the United States of America, and we are perfectly entitled to hold our different points of view. All I ask the House to-day is to give these arrangements the best chance to work out.