The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-08-16
SWAYING FRANCE

French Chief of State Petain,
while not yet pledging military aid
in his government collaboration
with Hitler, makes it quite clear
that his move is wholly inimical TO
allied interests and constitutes
potential. IL not actual. menace TO
the western hemisphere.
Certainly the possibility OF mill
tary cooperation is indicated in
the fact that the Vichy government
has pledged itself to a new order
which is being established by force.
The point OF immediate concern
to the Allies and the Americas is
whether Vichy intends 10 give the
Nails access 10 strategic bases
such as Dakar and the French
possessions of North Africa, there
by vastly strengthening the Ger
man hand in the crucial battles Of
the Atlantic and the Mediterran-
can.
The allied cause may hinge upon
this issue OF colonial bases.
The more remote threat to the
western hemisphere is recognized
IN the report that the United
States is negotiating for an air
base in Brazil TO offset any Nazi
move against Dakar. Brazil pro-
vides the nearest land approach to
Dakar, which is 1920 miles across
the narrow part OF the South
Atlantic.
The Allies still have hope that
General weygand, commander IN
chief Of the French colonial forces.
may refuse to surrender bases TO
the Germans even II he is ordered
10 do so by Vichy. II long has
been widely believed that this
represents his frame OF mind.
However. that is another of those
doubtful situations which time
alone will clarity.
% There remains one aspect OF
this Vichy move which has been
little noted but which may become
of increasing importance. That is
the attitude OF the French peo-
pie toward this subscription TO
totalitarian Hitlerism, which many
of them take to mean complete
subservience 10 Germany. They
may feel that Hitler leadership is
more efficient than theirs has
been. just as some OF the people
IN Russia seem to feel, but 1t Is
difficult TO believe that all French
men or even the majority will sub
NIT willingly. Petain himself in
his announcement OF adherence TO
the new order, acknowledged
strong opposition.
There have been signs OF revolt
against Nazidom. The Nichy gov
eminent may be inviting trouble,
but how can trouble he avoided?
A feeble old man weakly submits
10 German dictation. He faces
trouble any way he turns.
He is pinched between Hitler
end French subversion on one
hand and French patriotism on
the other. And while he struggles
with his problems the German
army parades its strength in half
starved, debt ridden Russia.
Immense size of Russia. the
great number OF people and their
blind obedience TO orders result
ing from years OF communistio
RECOMMENDATION are factors which
Hitler underestimated They are
giving him some unexpected trou.
BILE, but his propaganda machine
keeps up the sales campaign and
the French. like other conquered
nations, are close TO helpless.
II they are in a mood to strike
in defense OF their respective ma
tions they must first be encour
aged by German reverses before
they can be organized for action
There is little hope of an effective
uprising 30 long as the million
German soldiers IN Russia appear
10 be gaining ground and Berlin
continues TO broadcast the boas
OF new victories.
We like to think OF the CLAM
orous French patriotism as some
thing that can never be crushed
something that will rise with re
gone. armament gone, unity gone
German agents and German sym
pathizers working with organized
effectiveness, and German Officers
virtually in command Of the gov
eminent, 1t is hard to see jus
how such a change can be brough
about till some telling blow is de
livered against the German ad
vance. There is strength in thest
subjected nations. but TO max
the strength effective there mus
be a reminding of faith in thei
own strength. leadership to direc
that strength and faith in tn
leadership to give the people some
thing better than they have ha,
in recent years and something bel
ter that Hitler is promising then
Promises can go a long way C
ward swaying the Judgment OF
nation.