Evening star., 1941-12-26
Islands
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forces. He emphasized that the
islands could have no strategic value
because they were used only by
French fishermen.
Henri. .Haye Sees Other Reasons.
He said he would not be aston
ished" If the seizure OF the Islands
was not brought about BY persons
who were worried" about improv-
ing relations between the United
States and Vichy.
He suggested the possibility that
there might be some connection be-
tween q false report circulated .
few days ago that Marshal Petain
had resigned as head OF the Vichy
government, and the st. Pierre
Miquelon coup. He said the fisher
men on the islands might have been
shown newspaper reports Of the Pc
tain resignation rumor In an effort
to persuade them to support the
Free French forces.
The Ambassador said he hoped
that Mr.. Hull would be able to "clar-
ify" the situation after his confer
ences with representatives Of the
other interested governments, al
though he declined to predict that
the United States would try to force
withdrawal of the Free French be-
yond saying that it should not be
much trouble for this Government
to do 80.
U. 8. Protest Not Sent to French
Although the State Department
used stern language In q statement
yesterday apparently condemning
the Free French course, 1t was noted
that the departments demand for
an explanation was addressed to
Canada rather than to the Free
French themselves. The islands
declared themselves yesterday in q
plebiscite In favor Of the Free
French and opposed to Vichy.
The United States could hardly
be expected to interfere With q
plebiscite action.
A Free French spokesman In Lon
don was quoted Is saying that the
islanders were quite pleased with
the so-called occupation"
Observers here wondered just why
the State Department sought infor.
nation from the Canadian govern.
ment when the islands lie almost II
the shadow of Newfoundland, which
is q British crown colony. The de-
gree Of Canadian responsibility fol
whatever may have happened Is not
clear. The United States itself 1.
responsible for enforcing the Mon
roe Doctrine.
Although the State Department.
statement has caused the Fre<
French cause to suffer some In thu
public eye, 1t is said that the Wash
ington Government felt 1t must ol
necessity take 4 step that would in
dicate to Vichy our formal support
Of Vichy's sovereignty and would in
dicate to our American republic
neighbors that We are upholding thu
Act of Havana Of 1910, which give.
all American republics control ovel
changes in sovereignty of Euro
pean possessions in the New World
A spokesman Of the Vichy EN-
bassy here yesterday said tn
French diplomatic representative
here were satisfied that the Stat
Department would demand the re-
nmciation Of the islands by tn,
Free French.
The British radio, meanwhile
quoted Berlin as reporting that Ad
miral Jean Darlan. Vichy Vice Pre-
mier. had gone to Toulon, big French
Mediterranean naval base wher'
several major units of the French
fleet are berthed.
Both Canada and the Un!tce
States disclaimed advance knowledg'
Of the island coup, British author
tiles in London said it. was . com
plete surprise" to them and I
French Embassy spokesman here de-
nounced it as blunder worse thar
Dakar."
The State Department issued tn
; following statement:
"Our preliminary reports shov
that the action taken by three so
called Free French ships at ST
Pierre and Miquelon was an arbi
trary action contrary to the agree
ment of all parties concerned ant
certainly without the prior knowl
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