Evening star., 1940-06-28
French Relations Uncertain


Creation in London OF French
National Committee to organize con-
tinued resistance to Germany and
Italy in the French colonial empire
with its tremendous resources out
side the continent despite the Petain
governments capitulation raises a
delicate question for the United
States. Shall we recognize the Pc
tain government or the committee
headed by General Charles de
Gaulle as representing the will of the
French people? The question has
momentous implications. Our moral
support for the De Gaulle group
might mean the difference between
success or failure in it's effort to
keep up an effective fight alongside
Great Britain. Extension of diplo-
nation recognition to it would clear
the. way for possible release of
French gold and credits impounded
here for use in carrying on the war.
A decision of such import cannot
be made at a moments notice. Sec
retary of State Hull properly said
recently that he could not even dis
cuss the matter until he has learned
all the facts of the situation in Eu-
rope. On one side is the British an
nouncement that they no longer re-
gard the Petain government "as the
government of an independent coun-
try and that they will deal with the
French National Committee ''in all
matters concerning prosecution of
war so long as that committee con-
tinues to represent all French ele-
ments resolved to fight the common
enemy" On the other hand, there is
the French government declaration
in Bordeaux that it sought peace
with full independence of action, and
its appeal for non-recognition of
any French elements in London urg-
ing continued resistance.
There is no exact precedent for
the decision this Government may
have to make. Denmark probably
offers the closest parallel The DAN
ish government submitted without
resistance to the German invasion.
However, Henrik de Kaufman. the
Danish Minister here, disregards in
structions from his capital and has
acted independently to cooperate
with Great Britain in resistance to
German demands, particularly upon
the Danish merchant marine. And
he still is recognized as the repre-
sentative of the Danish government
here, even though he may openly
f1out orders from that government.
A possible basis for support of any
organized French move for continued
resistance despite it's disavoWal by
the government at Bordeaux may be
the statement of policy made by
President Roosevelt in his message
of June Is to former Premier Rey-
maud of France. "The Government
of the United States will not consider
as valid any attempts to infringe by
force the independence and terri
torial integrity of France" the Presi-
dent said in that message, which
promised material help from this
country $50 long as the French peo-
pie continue in defense of their lib
erty." Our position may be deter
mined finally by the amount Of
support given to General de Gaulle's
effort to carry on the war by the
French Navy and colonial territories.
The extent to which he can demon
strate that he represents the wishes
of the French people still able to act
free from German-Italian coercion
undoubtedly will, and should, weigh
heavily with American policy makers.
Withdrawal of our chief diplomatic
representative at Bordeaux, Anthony
j. Drexel Biddle, jr., American Am
basSador to Poland, who had been
maintaining contact with the French
ministers, does not necessarily have
any connection with our relations
with France. His assignment to &C
company the French government
was temporary one. He simply has
been ordered now to resume his du-
ties as oI1r renrnsnnt ativa to tba Dol