De Gaulle’s plans for visit here complete; due late this week
Has outlined subjects for discussion in note; U.S. officials optimistic
By the Associated Press
Gen. Charles de Gaulle has made definite and final arrangements for his visit here, it was learned today. He is expected late this week.
The French leader in previous discussions about the trip had qualified his plans with a big “if” – as to whether he found he could make it.
Gen. de Gaulle is understood to have sent a note on the subject of the talks with President Roosevelt and others, which are to be on general policy rather than specific issues.
The U.S. government had already messaged Algiers its views on the conversations, stressing military topics bearing “on the conduct of the war.”
Washington officials look to the visit with increased optimism, following the marked strain between this government and Gen. de Gaulle’s French committee two weeks ago.
A factor which has helped clear the atmosphere was completion of negotiations between Britain and Gen. de Gaulle’s Committee of Civil Administration and Currency Agreements for France.
American adherence to the agreements, which have not reached Washington yet, probably will be taken up with French diplomats after Gen. de Gaulle has finished his brief discussions of the general situation.
Talk of recognition of Gen. de Gaulle’s Algiers committee as provisional government of France has subsided, and this may help considerably in obtaining concrete results from Gen. de Gaulle’s talks with Mr. Roosevelt because the Frenchman previously had taken the stand that the question of authority should be settled before other topics could be taken up.
There is no sign of any change in the American policy against according full recognition to any French government before the French people are able to speak for themselves from metropolitan France.
U.S. spirit of freedom extolled by de Gaulle
Algiers, Algiers (AP) –
Gen. Charles de Gaulle praised American idealism, industrial power and courage today on the eve of his departure for a visit to the United States.
He declared:
Independence Day is freedom day. All the peoples of the earth know and respect America’s idealism, her industrial power, the courage of her sons whose blood is being shed on the shores of Europe and Asia.
The people of France will observe Independence Day because the same love of independence has always brought us together in the days of gloom as in the days of glory.
May these common sentiments inspire in the future as they did in the past the traditional friendship binding our two peoples and our two republics.
Algiers was festooned this July 4 with French, American and other Allied flags.
Gen. de Gaulle, who expects to visit Washington, New York and Canada, will be accompanied by his personal staff and Gen. Marie Émile Béthouart, Chief of Staff of National Defense.