Evening star., 1941-11-24
Vichy Complexities

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While titanic battles roar full-blast
in Libya and on the Moscow front,
diplomatic struggle of equal intensity
centers at Vichy. Here German diplo-
macy strives to force the French gov
.ernment to accept what amounts to
full collaboration with the Axis. When
General Weygand was retired from
his post as pro-consul in French
North Africa, last week, it looked as
though Vichy was about to capitulate
to German demands. There was no
question as to the reason for Wey-
gand'S dismissal, which our State
Department fatty asserted, on the
basis OF it's confidential reports, was
done at 1.-The express demand of
Hitler"
This led some commentators to the
pessimistic conclusion that the game
was up and that Vichy could be con-
sidered henceforth as completely on
the Axis side. Yet almost a week
has passed since Weygand's retire
ment, and seemingly no decisive
step has been taken. That, in turn,
has led to speculations that old Mar
shall Petain is again following his
policy of delay-yielding a bit under
intense pressure, but renewing his
resistance to further concessions and
thus gaining more time.
The one tangible development in
this complex maze of rumors and
surmises is that General Weygand
will have no successor. His broad
powers as Delegate General of
France in Africa" are to be divided
among four officials, each with lin
tied authority and all under direct
control from Vichy. This means
that the almost independent status
Of French Africa henceforth will
be ended. The military command in
North Africa is given to General
JUN, until recently a prisoner in
Germany. 1t is reported that his
release was contingent upon an un-
derstanding with Berlin. The mill
tary command in French West Africa,
including the vital naval base at
Dakar, is intrusted to General Bar
rau, a stanch Vichy supporter. The
civil administration in French Africa
is no longer consolidated with the
military command, as it was with
General Weygand, but is placed in
separate hands. To complete the
picture, it appears likely that the
late General Huntziger, recently
killed in an airplane crash, will be
succeeded as Minister of War by
General Dentz, who led the resist
ance against the British in Syria and
whose hostility to England is OBJ
viouS.
All this augurs badly and would
imply increasing complaisance of
Vichy toward the Axis. But there are
degrees in this complaisance 1t may
extend only to a benevolent neu-
trality, allowing Axis use of North
African ports for the transport of
supplies and troops for hard-pressed
Libya. Washington is maintaining
circumspect attitude and appar-
emily intends to give Vichy the bene-
fit of what doubts may remain. To
break formally with Vichy might be
the very thing to deprive France Of
hope and drive it in desperation into
the Axis arms. There is unquestion-
ably great deal of diplomatic ma
neuvering going on behind the
scenes. The situation is so delicate
and so complex that careful handling
seems to be called for until the sit
uation clarifies unmistakably.
Much doubtless depends upon the
outcome of the current battle in
Eastern Libya. A crushing Axis de-
feat there might compel Hitler to
crack down on Vichy and demand
full alignment with the Axis to save
its foothold in North Africa. On the
other hand, failure Of the British
offensive, or successful retirement
by the bulk of the Axis forces along
the coast toward the main Axis base
at distant Tripoli would not require
an immediate showdown. There is
some evidence that Germany does
not want to launch a full-f1edged
campaign in the Mediterranean un-
til the Russian campaign has reached
a satisfactory stage. Thus, Petain
may be able to stall for time. But
that time seems to be limited by the
trend of events.