Evening star., 1941-08-08
Vichy Assurances

The Petain government has handed
Ambassador Leahy diplomatic note
in answer to his formal request for
information regarding French colo
NAL policy. The note follows closely
official statements recently made
at Vichy on the subject. 1t dis
tinguishes between the diverse atti-
tudeS of the Petain regime in Syria,
Indo-C China and North Africa.
Vichy contends that it always has
tried to defend the French Empire
whenever this was possible. In
Syria it seemed feasible to defend
the mandate against British "aggreS-
sion" Indo-China was helpless, so
| Japanese demands were acceded to-.
North Africa is held by General
Weygand, who has declared repeat
edly that he would resist any at
tacker. The logical deduction is that
here Frances basic colonial policy
remains valid and will be continu-
ouSly applied.
1t is understandable that Vichy
should desire to avoid a diplomatic
break with the United States. Wash
ington's good offices have enabled
both France and North Africa to
obtain a minimum of much-needed
supplies. Also, a rupture of diplo-
matte relations might result in
American recognition of the Free
French regime headed by General de
Gaulle, which would prejudice the
Vichy government in many ways. So
Vichy does its best to reasSure WASH
ington of its good intentions.
However, Washington is almost as
skeptical as London of Vichy's ability
to resist Axis demands, even though
it would like to do So Our Govern
ment regards Vichy'S explanation re-
garding Syria and Indo-China as
specious and unconvincing. In both
cases Axis wishes were carried out to
the letter. With such a record, there
is no real assurance that German
demands for bases in North Africa
could or would be effectively re-
sisted. Marshal Petain might desire
to resist, but his colleagues, from
Admiral Darlan down, are so deeply
committed to a policy of "collabora-
ton" with the Axis that they would
be most unlikely to defy Germany
over North Africa, regardless Of
consequences to France and to them
selves.
Although it may be true that no
German troops are yet in French
North Africa, they are certainly III
Spanish Morocco. The time presum-
ably is not ripe for an Axis move in
this region that would precipitate a
general showdown for which Ger
! many wants to be well prepared.
Meanwhile it suits the Axis as well
as Vichy that America should main
tain diplomatic relations with the
Petain government. But everything
indicates that by early autumn,
when military operations in North
Africa once more become possible, it
again will become major theater OF
warfare. That is the logical moment
for maximum Axis pressure on
Vichy. The complex negotiations
now taking place among Vichy,
Paris and Berlin, to the accompani-
ment of a constant propaganda bar
rage from the German-controlled
Paris press and revival OF the
contest between Admiral Darlan and
Pierre Laval, are preliminary moves
in the game.
1t should not be forgotten that,
while Germany has released most of
it's captive French sailors and avia-
tors for renewed service, more than
a million French soldiers remain in
German prison camps. This is the
cruelest pressure which Germany
exerts over France, striking at every
French home as perpetual threat.
Marshal Petain long ago said rightly
that his neck was in moose. No
government thus circumstanced can
be relied upon to oppose its master
beyond a certain point. And that
crucial point does not seem to be far
awaV