The Admiral as Makeshift
The issues involved in General Eisenhower's acceptance of Admiral Darlan as High Commissioner in French North Africa are discussed in an article on a later page. Profound uneasiness has been caused in this country, and in many quarters in America, by this new collaboration with the man who in the recent past has so effectually collaborated with the Germans to our great dis- advantage ; and there is widespread approval for General de Gaulle and the French National Committee—those who from the first took their courage in both hands and fought orfe for France— when they refuse to have anything to do with negotiations with representatives of Vichy. It is a relief, therefore, to have President Roosevelt's assurance that the present arrangement in North Africa is only a temporary expedient, justified solely by the stress of battle. He maintains that what the American General arranged had saved American, British and French lives and had saved vital time. It will be noted that Admiral Darlan, though repudiated by Marshal Petain, still claims to be acting as his Delegate-General. At the most he should be regarded as no more than the de facto head of the French Government in Africa in charge of the administration in the transition period.
