Union in Algiers

With no Gallic kiss, but a handshake, sensitive General Henri Giraud (five stars) greeted sensitive General Charles de Gaulle (two stars) at Maison Blanche airport near Algiers this week. The leader of Fighting France looked pale, his slight double chin sagged tiredly as he reviewed a company of the Garde Mobile. Said he: "Bon jour, mon general. . . ." Said Giraud: ". . . Tres content de vous voir." Then, in a blue Packard sedan, with General Georges Catroux (five stars) sitting between them, Generals Giraud and de Gaulle rode off to the long-awaited parley for a united France.

As a prelude to actual negotiations, General de Gaulle talked to some 30 correspondents in the big white villa set aside for him in Algiers. Reported TIME Correspondent Jack Belden:

"With hands folded and elbows on his knees, General de Gaulle made his points in clear, precise language. To achieve the unity of the French Empire, he said, there must be a central power with three characteristics: 1) it should have material and moral position ('You all know what I mean.' said he, thus expressing his dissatisfaction with the ex-Vichyites still in high places in North Africa) ; 2) 'it should be based on the real sovereignty of France and not on a fictitious sovereignty'; 3) it should be created in harmony with the French masses -- 'We must not build in Algeria something not in accord with the people of France.' " The two generals set up a seven-man committee to be the central power. Generals Giraud and de Gaulle will preside over it alternately. It has two De Gaullists, Rene Massigli and Andre Philip, and two Giraudists, Jean Monnet and General Alphonse-Joseph Georges (seven stars). No. 2 French general at the war's outbreak, who escaped from France last week. The seventh man is General Catroux. He was the intermediary chiefly responsible for bringing De Gaulle and Giraud together. Now he will bear the burden of keeping them together.

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