Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-03-11
F.anco-British Tension

f.1nco-british Tension
The threat by Admiral Jean OAR
Ian, Vice Premier of France, to pro-
vide arms and naval protection for
French merchantmen if the British
blockade is continued was couched
in such immoderate language as to
raise legitimate question concern
ing the motives underlying his state
ment.
Admiral Darlan's anti-British SEN
timents are well known, but, when
full allowance is made for that fact,
his characterization of the British
blockade as ''imbecile" and his eX-
traordinary assertion that "the Ger
mans are more generous and more
comprehensive of the needs of hui
mainly than the English" call for
some explanation beyond a mere de-
sire to induce Britain to lift or modify
the restrictions which have been i'm
posed on French shipping.
Having in mind the formal circum-
stances under which his statement
was issued, and the inf1ammatory
rather than conciliatory effect which
he must have anticipated that it
would have on the British, it seems
only reasonable to conclude that Ad-
miral Darlan, while undoubtedly gen.
timely irritated by the blockade,
was endeavoring primarily to arouse
French public opinion and to direct
it against the former ally across the
Channel, if not actually in favor of
the invaders who now have France
at their mercy.
If the admiral has dedicated him.
self to the task of melting the French
against the British, the blockade
and its resultant hardships lend
themselves readily to his purpose. In
state in which the press and the
radio are under governmental con-
troll it is relatively easy, assuming
the existence of a colorado justifica-
ton, to direct the anger of hungry
men against chosen object, and
II6Ic Gall NC IlO GIldG LIlc pdISS
of hunger are being felt even now
by the conquered people of France.
True, the same dispatch from Vichy
which contained Admiral Darlan'S
tribute to what he considers the
relative generosity and humanity of
the Germans credited Marshal Petain
with having said that the Nazis
requiSitioned 2,700,000 quintals of
French wheat for the German army
and have returned only 2,000,0 900
quintals (220,400 tons), presumably
keeping the balance for themselves.
But even if this information was
it may be doubted whether it would
offset Admiral Darlan's effort to place
full blame for Frances plight on the
blockade, while ignoring the fact
that the German conquerors of the
French would benefit, at least indi-
rectly, if the blockade were lifted.
There are, of course, other factors
contributing to the mounting tension
between the erstwhile allies. Britain
is seriously concerned by reports of
increasing German influence in
French North Africa, and the situa-
ton in French inundated Syria also
is regarded by London as disquieting.
But these are secondary to the block
ade as potential sources of trouble.
The British government regards its
blockade of the continent of Europe
as a military necessity; as its one
real hope of ultimately breaking the
power of the Nazis and freeing the
peoples now held in bondage. Thus,
there is little likelihood that Britain'S
faith in the long-range power of her
navy will be shaken by Admiral
Darlan's contemptuouS reference to
the blockade, for to the British, no
less than to the French, this is a
matter of life or death.
For the people of this country,
whose sympathy has lain with both
the French and the British, it is a
deeply distressing experience to wit
ness this transition from friendship
to a mounting hatred which may
explode into armed conflict at any
time. The bitter irony of this war
will have achieved its fullest flower
If the two peoples who were pledged
to stand or fall together a year ago
should find themselves at each
ofhnrjS thrOots tonoorroU