Evening star., 1941-06-07
BY GARRETT ID. HORNER.

French action
BY GARNETT ID. HORNER.
Relations between the United
States and France. strained close
to the breaking point amid Amer
lean apprehension over the course
of French-German collaboration
which France contends is misunder-
stood here. appeared to be nearing a
showdown today.
CASTOR Henry -Haye, French Am
oassador, planned to see Secretary
of State Hull Monday n a new
attempt to convince him that "the
destiny of France can never be
opposed to that of America" and
said he hoped by then to have
material from his government to
show that Frances word is just as
good as the facts"
Difficult Situation,
From Vichy. meanwhile, came an
official note from the French Foreign
Office spokesman declaring that
France for its part wants to pre-
serve friendly relations with the
United States" but charging that
the United States cannot under
stand that the first task of the
French government, in the par
ticularly difficult situation in which
1t finds itself, is to safeguard the
vital interests of France"
The parallel statements of the
French Ambassador here and the
Vichy spokesman were in reply to
a statement by Secretary Hull
thursday, in which he asserted that
French cooperation with Germany
to the extent indicated by prelim-
mary reports would make France
on instrument of aggression" and
be utterly inimical' to the rights
Of other countries.
1T is surprising" the Vichy
spokesman said, according to an
Associated Press dispatch last night,
ito see the American Secretary of
State describe as a policy of ag-
gression and oppression one which
is directed against nobody and
harms the interest of no other
power"
At a press conference here late
yesterday the French Ambassador
charged the situation was COM
pGcated by false rumors or inten-
tionally exaggerated reports" en-
phatically denying that his govern
ment intended to become an active
military partner of the Axis.
There is not the slightest reason
for any anxiety regarding the
French possessions in this hemis-
phere," he said, adding that I'VE
have given to the American Govern
ment all conceivable assurances and
guarantees" to the effect that they
would not become a menace to
American security.
He added that because of these
assurances he could not dream" of
any American action against the
French possessions, but emphasized
that France was determined to de-
fend its territories anywhere
against any attack"
This Government and other Amer
lean republics have made clear that
they were ready to take over any
European possessions in this henliS.
phere if necessary to prevent Ger
many gaining a foothold in them.
No action is planned against the
French colonies, however, unless
definite evidence of German pene-
tration develops.
In denying reports of German
troop landings in French Near East
possessions and insisting that France
was prepared to defend them against
a possible British attack without
any help" Mr.. Henry-Haye de-
clared that French forces will
never, by air, sea or land, take the
initiative of any operation against
the British
The Associated Press reported
from Vichy, meanwhile, that a
French government press note de-
clared the British were considering
an attack on French inundated
Syria although such a plan had mot
been completely approved" by the
British command.
The Vichy statement. following
cabinet meeting, charged that
English propaganda would like to
have it believed that German troops
have arrived in Syria to Justify
perhaps-British military action
against that country"
Mr.. Henry-Haye admitted that
some German airplanes had landed
in Syria, as he contended was per-
mitted under the armistice terms,
but insisted that there we're not
enough to cause alarm" Asked
if they had since left Syria, he
said we are trying our best so
there will be no excuse for a clash
with the British"
In bitter comment on the review
of American assistance to France
since the Armistice that was con-
tanned in Mr.. Hull's statement
Thursday, Mr.. Henry -Haye said
that while France was deeply
grateful for the four shipments
of food sent to France from this
country our most urgent needs
were estimated at roughly ITO ship
loads"
He also pointed out that France
had sought to buy food here with
a part of her frozen" funds and
could not understand why France
was much more severely treated
than the japanese, the Italians or
the Germans" in financial matters.
He was referring to the fact that
Axis funds here have not been
frozen" under Treasury control
as have those of France and other