Misunderstanding

Frenchmen in sweltering, graft-ridden French Guiana (home of Devil's Island) believed what they heard: General Charles de Gaulle of the Fighting French and General Henri Giraud in North Africa were uniting in the cause of French liberation. That was enough.

Bloodlessly but firmly they ousted ineffective Governor Rene Weber, released political prisoners, shouted Vive la France. At long last their colony had freed itself of the reactionary, pro-Fascist control of Admiral Georges Robert in Martinique. Excited cables went off from Negro Mayor M. Sophie of Cayenne to Generals de Gaulle and Giraud. The cables were garbled in transmission but they indicated that French Guiana was awaiting their orders.

For unexplained reasons, the cable to Giraud was delivered two days before De Gaulle received his message. Giraud promptly appointed a new governor for French Guiana. So did De Gaulle when he learned of the revolt. Pending the arrival of Giraud's permanent appointee, Colonel Albert Jean Paul le Bel (No. 2 man of the Giraud mission in Washington) was dispatched to take temporary charge. De Gaulle also named a temporary appointee, Colonel Pierre de Chevigne, who was also in Washington. Colonel le Bel got instant cooperation from the State Department (and the use of a U.S. Army transport plane). De Gaulle's nominee was informed that no transportation was immediately available.

Last week Colonel le Bel arrived in French Guiana. Frenchmen and natives greeted him with cries of "Vive De Gaulle, Vive Giraud!"

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