Evening star., 1941-04-29
Viohy Acts 10 Halt
Threatened De GauIIe
Drive in East Africa
Negotiating With Both
Britain and Italy for
Use Of Jibuti Railway
By PAUL GHALI,
FOREIGN Correspondent Of The star and
Tbicarn nailv News

Foreien Correspondent Of The star an
CHICAGO Daily News
VICHY, April 29.-France. through
its officials in French Somaliland
today was understood to be in ne
gotiation with both British anc
Italian authorities in order to gair
use of the Somaliland section of thu
Jibouti- Adds Ababa railway ant
thus take the wind out of the sails
of the threatened De Gaullist Of
fensive on that East Africa bit oi
French colonial territory.
Combined British and motorized
units of Gen. Charles de Gaulle S
free French" movement are re-
ported poised on the Ethiopian side
of the French Somaliland frontier
Other De Gaullist troops are said to
have landed at zeila, British Somal-
iIand port barely IS miles from
Jibouti's harbor in the Gulf of Alden
An offensive is threatened, say re-
ports, and Vichy is doing all in its
power to end another of those tragic
dilemmas born of Frances paradox
ical position today.
Completely Cut Of.
French Somaliland, with IS 1000 in
habitants in $4,000 square miles of
bare desert, is now completely cut
off from its mother country. All
communication by air requires spe-
cial permission from Italy, while
Great Britain controls access by
both land and sea.
Britain's interest in French So
maitland lies chiefly in the Jibuti
Adds Ababa Railroad, which is the
only link between Ethiopia's high
lands and the sea.
If Vichy obtains Italy's authorize
ton to use this line in order to feed
Italian civilians and, incidentally
British troops now in Ethiopia
France can hope to save this tiny
bit of empire.
If Vichy fails in this attempt
French Somaliland may be consid-
cred ripe fruit for the De Gaullist
army.
While fear is entertained here OF
a De Gaullist offensive, Gen. De
Gaulle has given his solemn promise
not to use Frenchmen against
Frenchmen. At the same time, Bri-
tain, in its present difficulties, is
said to have no reason to attack
that French colony only to give
Vichy reason for a hostile attitude
Propaganda Seen Real Danger.
It is believed here that the real
danger in the Somaliland crisis
comes from De Gsullist propaganda,
which, apart from other considera-
tions, may make itself felt. Sedi-
tious pamphlets are said to have
been dropped on Somaliland by
Free French" planes. Gen. LIE
Gentilhomme, commander of French
forces at Jibuti until the Franco
German armistice, when he joined
the British forces at Alden, is said
to have many friends within the
colony who might further his cause.
After the fall of Adds Ababa to
the British, it is understood, Vichy
asked Italy's permission to use the
railway on the purely humanitarian
plea to supply food to $4,000 italian
civilians massed in Adds Ababa.
Italy's reply was no.
Will Italy now change its mind?
it is asked in Vichy. If, with Brit
ish acquiescence, Rome grants that
request, England will be auto
matically deprived of a pretext to
join with Free French" columns
in action against French Somali-
land.
Vichy at Crossroads.
Meanwhile, assumption that Brit
ain has all but lost the battle of the
Mediterranean and presumably will
succumb in its death struggle with
Germany and Americas decision to