Evening star., 1941-08-27
By GEORGE WELLER,


Foreign Correspondent of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.
BRAZZAVILLE, French Equa-
torial Africa, Aug. PIT am
not keeping facts secret any
longer. l have offered the United
States the use of the principal
ports in Free French Africa as
naval bases against Hitler. I
have offered them upon the basis
of a long-term lease, analogous
to the plan under which Britain
offered her Atlantic bases to the
United States. But I have not
asked for any destroyers in re-
turn. I have asked only that the
United States make use of these
bases to counteract Dakar and
make it more difficult for Hitler
to thrust deeper into Africa, as
he undoubtedly will do as soon
as he is able to release some
forces from Russia"
With these words, uttered in quiet,
controlled tones, Gen. Charles de
Gaulle, the tall, angular George
Washington of the new France, in
a frank talk with this writer today
revealed that he had invited the
United States to take definite ac-
ton to meet the Nazi threat against
West Africa and South America
without allowing Hitler to gain his
customary first foothold.
(Secretary of State Hull said at
his press conference today that
he never had heard of the De
Gaulle offer before he read 1t in
The Star this morning
CThe question is embarrassing
for the State Department because
specifically, at least, good rela-
tions prevail between Washington
and Vichy.
attempts to reach the Free
French representative in Wash
ington, Jean r. Chalon, were un-
successfully
Predicts Nazi Invasion.
The disclosure came as a sequel
to a series of questions directed
toward finding out Gen. de Gaulle's
views on the Importance to the
United States of bases on the west
coast of Africa for protecting the
Caribbean and Brazilian ingress into
South America.
Speaking on his own soil without
the inhibitions natural in Cairo or
London, Gen. de Gaulle predicted
a Nazi invasion of that part of
Africa nearest to American soil in
the same uncompromising terms
with which he foretold the German
invasion of Syria two months before
1t happened and chartered the blitz-
kr1eg technique six years before
Hitler launched it.
Through a suitable intermediary,
/ have offered the United States
Duala, in the Cameroons. and Port
Gentil in Gabon and Pointe Noire
In French Equatorial Africa as
naval bases" said Gen. de Gaulle in
tones SO grave and composed that
they belied the Importance of his
words.
I always had faith that the
United States would keep her word
and I know that America does not
covet territorial aggrandizement in
Africa. Especially am 1 sure that
Frances African possessions would
be IN safe hands if strategic points
were occupied by the American
Navy. I observe that one of the
cardinal points of the conference be-
tween President Roosevelt and
Prime Minister Churchill was re-
spect for the integrity of all nations.
Moreover, I believe in the American
conception of international honor"
said the general.
The interviewer asked whether he
believed the United States should
break off relations with Vichy.
Il do said the general. with
out delay. Immediately"
Was there any hope that Vichy
might. despite all evidence to the
contrary, still change color and re-
sist Hitlers orders if Britain and
her allies began to gain victories?
Not only is there no evidence,
but the men of Vichy could not now
turn back even if they wanted to-"
said Gen. de Gaulle impassively.
They have taken three deliberate
steps, one after another, and they
cannot retrace them even if they
should develop a desire to do so.
The first step was that they lost the