Gen. Henri Giraud’s speech today reduces Algerian Jews to a status below that which they enjoyed under the French Republic, it was pointed out here.
An authoritative source predicted on Friday that Giraud would do away with all racial and religious restriction, leaving Jews, Arabs and Frenchmen on a precisely equal plane. But it now appears that the effect of the speech will be to lower Jews to the position of “subjects.”
Observers here found that Giraud’s action restores the law of the French Republic, but of Napoleon III’s empire, during which a decree was issued entitling Jews and Arabs to apply for French citizenship as individuals, but which did not guarantee that such citizenship would be granted.
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