Evening star., 1940-10-25

interested in any new disposition of
the French fleet and in the fate of
Dakar, French naval base in Africa,
which might be utilized by Germany
and Italy, if France makes new
concessions, for submarine attacks
. on shipping in the South Atlantic,
or possibly for an invasion spear
head against South America.
Friendly Attitude Maintained.
Assurance that this Government S
diplomatic attitude toward the
Vichy regime is still on the normal
friendly nation" basis was given by
President Roosevelt at his press
conference today.
Asked if there had been any
change in the light of current nego-
tiations between the French and
German governments. Mr.. Roosevelt
replied in the negative and pointed
out that normal diplomatic relations
still are being maintained.
Reminded, then, that formal re-
lations also exist between this Gov
eminent and the Nazi government,
the question implying that the
friendly quality may not be pres
ent, the President merely laughed.
Hull Delays Comment.
Secretary of State Hull was asked
at his press conference today If
this Government had told the
French government that 1t could
not expect any sympathy from the
United States if it gave more col
laboration to Germany.
He replied that, without implying
whether he had thought or said
anything of that kind, he would
rather delay discussion of the ques-
ton until he could cover all phases
OF the situation.
He said that while he was OBJ
serving developments in the Franco
German relations very closely, he
did not know enough about the
matter at present to Justify any
statement.
Machinery Set Up.
Such problems that might arise
from the diplomatic moves abroad
presumably were discussed by Un-
dersecretary of State Sumner Welles
and CASTOR Henry Haye, French
Ambassador here. who was called to
the State Department for an uneX-
pected conference last night. Mr..
Welles was believed to have asked
for information concerning French
policy.
One question which Mr.. Weiies
was assumed to have raised Vas the
effect of any Hitler-Petain arrange
ment on French efforts TO obtain
telief from the United States. These
60 far have concerned chiefly med
.cal supplies. which Great Britain
has agreed to allow through the
British blockade, and canned milk
for babies The larger question OF
food relief has been held in abey-
ance because of the British blockade
and the uncertainty of French
policy.
Machinery for taking over the
American possessions of France-or
any other European poWer-When-
ever they ARE in danger of becoming
the subject of barter of territory or
change of sovereignty" was officially
set up yesterday by appointment of
the l4th member of the Inter- Amer
lean Emergency Committee for the
Provisional Administration of Euro
pean Colonies and Possessions in
America.
The Act of Havana, adopted last
July 80 at meeting of foreign min
listers of the American republics at
Havana. called for creation OF the
committee, to be constituted off,
cially when two-thirds. or IA, of the
2l republics had designated repre-
sentatives.
The committee is empowered to
determine when conditions would
make it necessary, in the interest
bf hemisphere defense, to take over
the provisional administration of
any American possessions of Euro
pean power to prevent a change OF
sovereignty, or even the assumption
of indirect control by another power
through coercion of the existing
rulers.
May Act Separately.
In an acute emergency leaving no
time for committee consultation, any
one or more of the American ma
tions may act independently to take
over an imperiled region and then
turn its administration over to the
committee. Administration of occu-
pied territory would be carried out
in the name of all the Americas
bv one or more nations designated
by the committee.
The French colonies which might
be seized in event the Vichy govern
ment permits them to be used to
further the interests of the AXIS
powers include the islands of Mar
Unique and Guadaloupe in the East
ern Caribbean approach to the
Panama Canal, French Guiana or
the South American mainland, anc
the small islands of st. Pierre ano
Miquelon off Newfoundland.
Martinique has been under espe-
eially close American surveillance
as a possible trouble spot because
of some 100 American-made mill
tary planes taken there on the
French aircraft carrier Bearn i'm.
mediately after the Franco-Gef.
man armiStlce, British naval YES
sells also have maintained a watch