Evening star., 1941-12-13
Query: France and Russia?

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Pearl Harbor the United States was,
at least technically, the worlds out
standing neutral. Now that the
United States, with its tremendous
power, has entered the war, this has
caused a much sharper lineup
throughout the globe Not only have
America and Britain formally united
in the common cause, but the Axis
powers have similarly drawn tighter
the diplomatic bonds between them.
Latin America is rapidly abandoning
its relative detachment and is be-
coming either actively belligerent or
very "benevolently" neutral.
Two governments, however, do not
as yet seem to have markedly
changed their recent diplomatic
status. These are Vichy France and
the Soviet Union. Vichy's stand is
especially puzzling. The meeting be-
tween Marshals Petain and Goering
has been followed by conference
between Admiral Darlan and Count
Ciano, the French and Italian foreign
ministers. Rumor has been busy
about both these conferences, the
general inference being that they
heralded much closer collaboration
between Vichy France and the Axis.
Yet nothing definite has as yet de-
veloped to indicate what, if anything,
was decided upon. Indeed, for the
past three days, foreign dispatches
have been almost barren concerning
Franco-AXiS relations.
OF course, it is to be remembered
that Vichy France is not free agent.
1t is disarmed and militarily helpless
against the Axis. Yet the Vichy
government retains a certain degree
of bargaining power, because the
Axis does not wish to destroy the
relatively cooperative Vichy regime
and be compelled to govern a rebel
liouS France by naked force with
the additional danger of driving
French North Africa into open revolt.
1t is therefore possible that Vichy
will succeed in Stalling of fullfedged
collaboration with the Axis. 1t is
significant that Washington has not
broken off diplomatic relations with
Vichy and has as yet made no move
to occupy French possessions in the
New World, as presumably would be
done the moment Vichy had entirely
surrendered to Axis demands.
In some respects, the attitude OF
Soviet Russia is hardly less enigmatic.
The Soviet Union is a formal ally of
Britain and has close understand
ing with the United States. 1t Is
also very much at war with Germany
and Italy. Japan has now declared
war on both America and Britain,
and her Axis partners have followed
suit against America in consequence
of the newly strengthened Axis pact
Yet Russia remains at peace with
Japan, and between the two coun-
tries is the diplomatic link of a nom
aggression treaty negotiated this
spring.
The Soviet government has ex-
pressed cordial sympathy with Brit
ain and America, emphasized by Mr.
Litvinov, its new Ambassador, since
bis recent arrival in Washington.
Yet it is made clear that the Russo
japanese treaty still stands, and
questions about the future are met
with polite evasions. The Soviet po-
sition seems to be that it is doing
yeoman service by fighting Germany,
which is the vital head of the Axis
combination. Whether this indicates
fear Of drawing down a Japanese at
tack upon it's Far Eastern provinces,
possibly weakened by withdrawal Of
troops for the European front, or
whether diplomatic moves as yet
concealed may be responsible, is an
intriguing subject for speculation.
Soviet Russia always has tended to
play lone hand in diplomacy. Never
has it unreservedly aligned itself
with any other power or powers.
Until it does so, therefore, the Soviet
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