Evening star., 1941-05-25
Mead Suggests u. 5.
Negotiate With Viehy
For Island Bases
Title to Areas Wouldn't
Change While Free
French Regime Exists
BY J. A. OLEARY.

A suggestion that the United
States try to negotiate with the
Vichy government for defense bases
on the French islands in this hemi-
sphere was laid before Secretary OF
State Hull last night by Senator
Mead, Democrat of New York.
His letter to the Secretary was a
new approach to discussion among
members of Congress of the island
situation, since the recent an
nouncement of a collaboration pol
icy between Germany and the
ViChy government.
Senator Mead made it clear he
had in mind only friendly ar
rangement for temporary bases.
with ownership of the islands re-
manning unchanged as long as there
is "a Free French government in
the world. y"
While not commenting on the
Mead proposal to negotiate for
bases. Chairman George of the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee said last night he sees no rea-
son up to this time for the United
States to occupy any of the French
possessions.
Good Idea" Says Pepper.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, Of
Florida, called the Mead proposal
"a good idea"
while We could take Martinique
and other French possessions with
out difficulty said the Florida
Senator, lit might not be quite
sporting We should try first to
negotiate for bases and then see
what happens
Three possible methods of nego-
tiation were outlined by Senator
Mead in his letter, as follows:
81 BY cancellation of a portion
of the French war debt to this
country.
q. BY establishing French credits
here for the provision of nom
military supplies to French posses
sions and to unoccupied regions of
France.
"3. BY any other acceptable for
rnula arrived at by the negotiating
parties, provided that it be un-
nlstakably demonstrated that the
United States has no imperialistic
aspirations and that the defense
of the Western Hemisphere is our
sole objective
Sees Sympathetic support.
Senator Mead mentioned French
Guiana, along with the islands of
St. Pierre, Miquelon, Martinique.
Guadaloupe, ST. Bartholomew and
CIipperton.
"If such negotiations were sug-
gested by our Government. they
could, in my judgment, be advanced
in neighborly fashion which would
invite the sympathy and support
of large portion of the French
population.
In accordance With the tradi-
tional policy of our country. 1t
should be clearly understood that
the French nation would not be
deprived of ownership of the islands
In question but that the United
States would seek only the right to
establish naval and air bases on
the possessions for the duration ot
the present emergency"
No Fear of Axis Control.
Chairman George summed up his
present attitude toward the French
island situation in these words;
'On the basis of detailed in
formation available there is moth
ing to indicate any purpose on the
part of the Vichy government to
transfer sovereignty or control Of
any French possessions in the West
ern Hemisphere to any other power
or group of powers 1t would seem
unwise to proceed to occupy these
islands on the assumption they
might fall under control of the Axis
powers.
Our course has already been
made plain. to wit. joint action by
all of the American states, pledging
the states Jointly and severally to
maintain the Monroe Doctrine in
all of its force and effect. No clear
reason for occupancy of any of the
French possessions in the hemis-
phere has yet appeared"
Favors Seizure If Talks Fail.
Senator Mead expressed the be-
lief IN his letter that if negotiations
were undertaken and rejected by
the Vichy government such re-
lection could hardly be interpreted
as anything else than an action
taken as result of extreme pres
sure from the contemporary con-
tlnental conqueror."
Should a proposal to negotiate
be rejected or should such negotia-
tions fail, Senator Mead continued,
"the temporary seizure by the United
States of the possessions referred to
would be less Objectionable to the
French people and would be more
acceptable and better understood
by our South and Central American
neighbors.
Il understand of course, that
should negotiations be undertaken,
the terms and implications of the
recently approved Pact of Havana
would be fully respected and OBJ
served. Perhaps under the terms
and spirit of that pact, commits
sion representing the Americas could
be formed to visit Vichv and to
confer with officials of that govern
ment.'
FL -