Evening star., 1941-05-16

position to deliver the goods. 1t is
said in Vichy that the negotiations
will be continued. 1t is a tactical
attitude merely intended to placate
American feeling. In substance the
agreement is complete.
Last Monday Marshal Petain
promised Admiral William D. Leahy,
the United States Ambassador, to
keep him fully informed of the ne
gotiations in progress with Otto
Abetz German representative in
Paris; Joachim Won Ribbentrop,
German Foreign Minister, and Hit
Ter. Did he keep his word before
he addressed the French nation
yesterday? Probably, but so far it
has not been reported officially that
the American Ambassador was given
a chance to become acquainted at
first hand with the facts.
Reticent to Talk to Leahy.
Three days ago, the chief Of the
French state was more than reticent
in his talk with Admiral Leahy. He
denied knowledge of the latest de-
velopments since he had spent the
previous week in his house on the
Riviera and said everything would
be disclosed to him at the ensuing
ministerial council. Admiral Leahy
reminded him of the verbal aSSur-
ance given more than once to the
Government at Washington that
France would not add to her COM
mitments under the treaty of armis-
tice. The marshal did not contradict
him, but he was careful to repeat
that he was convinced Germany will
win in the war.
There is no hesitation in London
about the implications of the Fran
co-German agreement. The French
Empire overseas is no longer to be
reckoned as neutral land. Already
German airmen are reported to be
using airfields in Syria. Conse-
quently, for the British imperial
general staff, Syria falls in the same
category as occupied France. 1t
means that she becomes a military
objective.
The Vichy government, as diplo-
matte observers see it, is not formal
ly bound to lend military help to
Germany, but to extend facilities
described as merely of economic i'm
portance. However, assuming that
those facilities are deemed in Lon
don to be of material assistance to
German military power land such
is the case in SYRIA force will be
resorted to to put an end to that
state of affairs. Then, all the signs
are the French government will find
itself pledged to Germany to de-
fend its possessions. In brief, any
German who enters French terri
tory overseas will be presumed to
be an economic co-operator and
any Briton who attempts to re-
taliate, brazen invader.
Range Of Problems Is Wide.
There is no need to evoke the
range of problems which, on that
account, may crop UP in the near
future. Not only in Syria: not only
on the Mediterranean Seaboard, but
on the Atlantic seaboard and also,
from Casablanca to Dakar. To carry
out the new set of obligations he
indorsed on behalf of Vichy, Ad-
miral Darlan has at his disposal an
instrument which Pierre Laval
lacked: The French Navy under
the command of a body of officers
who, for many years, have been
selected and promoted by him.
AS to the main lines of the agree
ment they are sure to conform with
the draft for which, last December,
NJ. Laval vainly tried to gain Mar
shall Petain's approval France will
be promoted to full partnership with
Germany, whether or not she signs
the tripartite treaty of September
27, 1910, the cornerstone of the new
order. All the odds are she will
not sign. Outwardly, her territorial
integrity will be respected by the
victor, with the exception of Alsace
Lorraine, reannexed to Germany
last summer, and of q neutral zone
to run along the Eastern and North
ern frontier.
Italy's loot will be restricted to