NEWS OF THE WEEK
IT is fortunate that Mr. Churchill's convalescence in French Morocco afforded the opportunity of an intimate talk between him and General de Gaulle. It rests with the General, the Brench Committee of National Liberation and the Consultative Assembly to organise on French soil in Africa the part that Frenchmen will take in the invasion of Europe, and in the restoration of French authority when metropolitan France is liberated. Both of these are tasks which should be undertaken in full understanding with the Allies. That the French already possess a fine fighting force was shown by the brilliant part taken by General juin's corps on the right of the Fifth Army in Italy this week ; and in North Africa there are large numbers of trained men who are being steadily equipped. These will assuredly play their part in the coming concerted attack on the European continent. I:i addition, and no less important, there is the resistance movement within France, which is in close touch with General de Gaulle; its activities must be timed to coincide with the invasion. It is necessary also that decisions should be taken in advance for the gradual setting up of civil government in France, and for regulating relations between the invading armies and French authorities. These are matters which the Allies must converse thoroughly with General de Gaulle and his colleagues. They were doubtless discussed by the General and Mr. Churchill, and Mr. Duff Cooper remains to pursue them in greater detail. Characteristically Mr. Churchill has seen the advantage of reviewing today with the French leader some of those questions which, at a not far distant date, may have matured for still wider 'consideration with a French Provisional Government in Paris. The Marrakesh conversations have given the French the reassurance they might reasonably ask for after the impresssion created by one or two unfortunate recent incidents.
