Evening star., 1940-09-10
Viehy Government
Ambassador Denies
Pro-Nazi Program
Goston Henri-Hoye
Defends Petoin Against
Charge He Is q Puppet

CASTOR Henri -Haye, new AmbaS-
sador from the Vichy government
of conquered France, entered today
on what he described as a special
mission to the United States, de-
termined to "dispel certain impress
sions' and to help his stricken coun-
try to the extent of his power, espe-
cialy in meeting a menacing food
shortage.
M. Henri-Haye planned to take
up with President Roosevelt and
Secretary of State Hull the acute
problems which France faces. Fresh
from counselS at Vichy, he brings q
first-hand account of the nations
tragic hour and its efforts to restore
at least measure of stability while
Germany and England battle on.
The new Ambassador gave q brief
and informal outline of his mission
to the United States when he was
questioned by newSpapermen as he
alighted from New York plane at
Washington Airport late yesterday
Pro-Nazi- i-ism Denied.
He made it clear that certain
impressions" he seeks to dispel con-
Germ the widespread notion that
the Vichy government has carried
appeasement of its conquerors to the
point Of a pro-Nazis program. He
found such an impression when his
ship docked in New York few days
ago and picketers appeared with
placard proclaiming that the pro
Nazi French government" was send
ing a new Ambassador. There were
such signs as, Hell Haye" and
'Haye. Made in Germany"
Il found that rather ridiculous"
the envoy commented. Our gov
ernment certainly is not pro-Nazi."
He expressed hope that the French
government could be moved soon
from Vichy to Paris or Versailles,
which he regarded as measure in
the direction of greater order and
stability.
France" he said, "is a free state
within the unoccupied territory.
But it faces many acute problems"
The food situation he pronounced
very serious" An increasing short
age of vital staples must be met if
widespread suffering is to be avoided
this winter, he indicated.
Defends Petain.
The Ambassador defended Pre-
nier Marshal Petain vigorously
Although none of the lnterrogating
newspapermen mentioned the Pre-
miers advanced age, M Henri
Haye promptly did, seeking to refute
the idea that the hero of Verdun
had become senile and hence was
docile to the victorious Germans.
You would never know he was
that old" said the diplomat He
Is as spry. as bright of eye and
quick of manner and decision as a
young man. And he is doing a good
job krow of no one else who
could hs taken over the govern
ment at that critical hour. The
Nazis trust him and at the same
time he has the confidence of the
French people. He is doing his
best for France, as he always has
done"
This is M. Henri-Haye's first dip
lomatic post, though he has served
in the French Senate and has been
Mayor of Versailles. He made 1t
clear that his mission is a special
and extraordinary one. and tenn
porary. He does not plan to re-
main any longer than his govern
ment feels that it needs him here.
Visited L. s. Frequently.
A frequent visitor to America, he
speaks flawless English. He was an
officer in the last war and came
here in 1917 as an instructor in the
trench warfare that then held the
armies locked in decisionless grip
on the western front
Accompanying him as military
sttache was Col Georges Bertrand
Vigne, who was wounded in the
forlorn Allied attempt to stop the
Nazis at Narvik, Norway. He wears
patch over one eye and when he
was asked if Narvik cost him the
eve. he said: "Oh, no, that hap
pened in the last var"
The retiring Ambassador, Rene de
Saint Quentin who goes to Brazil,
greeted the new envoy at the air.
port, accompanied by the staff of
the French Embassy. Represent
ing the United States Government
was George T. Summerlin, the State
DeDartment'S chief of DrotOcOl.