Evening star., 1941-08-11
u. ). Due 10 Sever Ties
With Viohy If Nazi
Demands Are Met
Toduy's Cabinet Session
In France to Hold Fate
Of Future Relation
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
STRAIN on relations bettBeen
United States and Vichy qouern-
ment OF France has increased
steadily during recent months as
Vichy ertended collaboration"
NTH ArtS in face OF repeated
Earnings from Washington that
such action ,U1s against interests
OF this country, other peaceful
nations and France itself. Skep-
ticdl OF Vichy promises to retain
control OF French territory, this
to demonstrate actual Vichy
policy.
By the Associated Press.
The United States made its fu-
ture diplomatic relations with the
French government contingent on
the decisions taken today at the
meeting of Marshal Petains cabinet
In Vichy.
Relations would be severed, it was
reported, if the Vichy government
accedes to the latest German COL
loboration demands and permits the
Nazis the share" they seek in de-
Tending the French Empire.
This possibility caused conjecture
whether the United States might
then extend recognition to the Free
French" forces of Gen. Charles de
Gaulle-a step which De Gaullists
believe would rebound psychological
ly to the benefit of their cause in
most of the French possessions. The
State Department, however, held to
it's non-committal attitude on the
subject.
Vigorous U. S. Policy Seen.
Regardless of what happens on
this particular point, the belief in
diplomatic circles was that the
United States would adopt vigorous
counter policy against any Franco
German collaboration program
promising to install Nazi forces in
the strategic bases on the Atlantic
seacoast of French African colonies
Although officials were chary of
formal comment, there seemed to
be disposition to expect the worst
from today's deliberations at Vichy.
Only small hope apparently was
entertained that last-minute Amer
lean diplomatic efforts might stave
off the decision.
The opinion in some quarters was
that the Vichy government had a
definite purpose in view Saturday
when it released the statements
made in a Paris interview by Fer
nand de Brinon, its envoy in the
occupied zone. The burden of De
Brinons remarks was that France
had decided to accept the Nazi ver-
sion of the new world order as op-
posed to the Anglo-American con-
cept.
Martinique and Dakar.
Any deal that would allot Ger
many share" in defending French
possessions, it was pointed out
would Immediately bring into ques-
ton the status of French colonial
holdings in the Western Hemi-
sphere-notably the strategieaHy
located island of Martinique, in the
Caribbean.
AS for Nazi utilization of bases
on the coast of Africa, President
Roosevelt on May 81 specifically
mentioned French Dakar among
other bases when he spoke. of the
t,1 IF u;+Iar
ism away from any point in the
world which could be used and
would be used as a base of attack
against the Americas"
When he said that attack on the
United States could begin with
domination of any base which men,
sced our security, he declared I'VE
will not hesitate to use our armed
forces to repel attack"
L. S. Attitude Held Clear.
France, informed officials said, had
no reason for any doubts about the
United States attitude regarding
German use of French bases. The
State Department made that clear
in May when the question arose in
connection with German use of
Syrian air bases during the anti
British coup d'etat in Iraq
The French contended then that
they were poWerless under terms of
the armistice. The United States
took the position that the armistice
provision giving Axis control" OF
such bases meant control in the
sense of preventing or regulating
their use for military purposes by
the French, and did not sanction
their use for hostile operations
against Frances former ally, Britain.
The last detailed pronouncement
on Franco-American relations was
delivered a week ago in the form of
a strong warning to Vichy by then
Acting Secretary of State Sumner
Welles. He declared that future re-
lations with Vichy or the authorities
in French possessions would depend
on "the manifest effectiveness" with
which they endeavored to protect
themselves from those powers which
are seeking to extend their rule by
force and conquest, or by the threat
thereof"
The United States, it is known,
regards the Nazi demand for French
bases along the Atlantic and in the
Mediterranean as preliminary to a
gigantic Axis pincer operation, with
Japan thrusting at Britain from the
East while Germany strikes from
the west.
Spain and Portugal were expected
10 follow France in "co-operating'
with the western phase of the
operation.
The plan for the west was said to
be tWofold. Mediterranean bases
would be used to gain control of
that sea, facilitating the capture of
the Suez and pave the way for a
drive southeastWard through Iraq
and Iran on India.
Meanwhile. Dakar, only 1900 miles
from Brazil, the entire Iberian
peninsula, and the Spanish and
Portuguese island possessions off Eu-
rope and Africa would provide the
Germans with numerous bases for
air and submarine warfare against