Evening star., 1941-08-13
France 'CoIIuborotes'

III is grave ana 1ateful ChOlCe
which the Vichy government of van-
quiShed France has made in throwing
its lot with the Nazi conquerorS of
the Third Republic. In his radio
address to the French people, Chief
of State Petain ended all doubt-and
all WiShful thinking on the part of
democracy'S friendS-aS to Vichy'S
future course under the yoke of Ger
man domination. Americas hope
that Subjugated France would resist
the increasingly onerous pressure
from Berlin for full collaboration"
has been blasted Vichy has made it
plain that she intends not only to
submit completely to bondage by
Frances traditional enemies, but to
cooperate with them unreservedly
in their ruthless plans for further
conquest.
That this cooperation will go far
beyond the terms of the Compiegne
armiStice agreement is presaged by
the elevation of Admiral Jean Dar-
Ian, Vice Premier, to a military die
tatorShip of evident Nazi design.
The decision of Vichy to become a
sort of fifth wheel on the Nazi war
machine represents a distinct tri-
umph for Admiral Darlan, who, as
early as last June, advocated col
laboration with Germany At that
time he declared that France must
"cleave to Germany or perish" But
there were those in France who held
otherwise, who believed that any
such cleavage promised only dishonor
and death for free France-even
though Germany should win the war.
The influence of those who counseled
against SubServience to Hitler has
Waned steadily in recent months,
however, and the aging Petain grad
ually has given ground to the per-
siStent Darlan, who always was well
coached by the Nazis. Plainly, it
will be Military Dictator Darlan,
rather than Chief of State Petain,
with whom Germany will deal in
carrying out whatever collaboration
is on the program.
What form this collaboration will
take is yet to be disclosed. Marshal
Petain seemingly would have the
French people and the world believe
that Frances active alignment with
Germany is directed eastward,
against Soviet Russia. Yet the fact
is inescapable that any alliance
against Russia in her present fight
constitutes, indirectly, an alliance
against Great Britain, which is Rus
sia's fighting partner in the war with
Germany. Nor will Marshal Petain's
friendly overtures to the United
States, nor his fervent pleas for
American understanding, alter the
fact that America, like Britain, is on
Russia's side in this epochal battle.
In short, France cannot stand with
Germany against Russia without
standing also against England and
America. In cleaving to Germany,
France must sever all semblance of
friendly ties to the United States.
The question of what is to happen
to Dakar and to Martinique becomes
of critical Importance now. That
Dakar will be handed over to the
Germans under any policy of full
collaboration" seems inevitable. Such
an act, of course, would constitute
direct threat to the Western Hemi-
sphere. The status of Martinique
automatically is changed. The Carib-
bean island now comes under po-
litical control of a government
definitely in partnership with the
Reich. This would seem to be suffi-
cient warrant, under the Monroe
Doctrine, for American occupation of
Martinique, in the interests of hemi-
sphere security. Vichy's regrettable
decision certainly calls for stern
American reaction. The nature of
this reaction may not become fully
apparent until President Roosevelt
returns from his mysterious cruise.