Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-12

to hate Germans and Italians by
Gen. De Lattre de Tassigny, whose
anti-AXis feelings caused his recall
to France few months ago. 1t is
said that the soldiers. have not for
gotten his teachings.
Tunisia, the same strategic land
that was the corner stone of the
old Carthaginian Empire, is the
center of many opposing political
views that may prove of value to
the Allies in speeding the country's
conquest. The Arabs. Italians. pro-
Petain French and anti collabora-
zionist French who are there all
are motivated by different interests.
There is no unity.
The Bey, 50, a squat, deaf Arab
named Sidi Moncef Pasha, has been
involved in a quarrel with Vichy
since he succeeded to his throne
last June The State Department
thought three weeks ago that Tu-
nisia might be plunged into violent
domestic turmoil over the differences
between the French and the Bey,
who has rallied Arab public opinion
around him in support of his atti-
tude.
Sidi Moncef is not one to heed
instructions from Vichy at this
point. His complaint has been that
the French greatly exceed the
authority in Tunisia given them by
the two 60-year-old treaties that
established the Third Republic as
the protector of Tunis. His insis-
tence on action brought few con-
cessions last month, but not enough
to satisfy him.
Civil Official Decree"
The principal French civil Off
cial in Tunis is the aged Admiral
j. P. Esteva, whose title is the Resi-
dent. He is what is known as a
discreet collaborationist"- one who
has been following the Vichy line
because he felt he owed it to Mar
shall Petain and because it was the
safest policy for the moment. Ad-
miral Darlan, who now works for
the Allies was also a discreet COL
laborationist'
Rumors reached Washington not
long ago that Animal Esteva was
to be replaced. The belief is firmly
held here in high circles that Ad-
miral Esteva is not so blind in his
allegiance to Petain that he would
not cast loose if he saw the oppor-
tunity, which now apparently is at
hand. He has been discreetly
friendly with the American Consul
in Tunis, Hooker A. Dooiittle.
The military commander of the
French forces in Tunisia is a Gen.
Barreas, a recent arrival, as the sue
cessor of Gen. de Tassigny, and an
unknown quantity to London and
Washington. 1t is unlikely that
French soldiers will refuse to obey
their commanders.
The Italian Armistice Commission
was reVamped as recently as August
1t is not believed that its members
exert any political influence in Tu-
nlsia, although the protectorate is
heavily populated with Italians and
the annexation of Tunisia has long
been major propaganda point with
Rome.
The Bey has made it plain re-
peatedly that he loathes the Italian
colonists of his country and he is
cold toward the members of the
Armistice Commission. Protocol has
forbade American representa- ives in
Tunis to deal directly with the Arab
potentate. whose attitude about the
old treaties of protection has been
hard and unexpected blow for Vichy
Unpredictable.
His predecessor. Sidi Ahmed
Pasha, who died last June at the
age of 80. paid no heed to political
matters and signed papers sub
mitted to him by the President
without reading them. That was the
attitude of all the Beys since the
protectorate was established.
Events in Morocco during. the last
few days have taught the British
and American governments caution
in anticipating what way French
officials will move. The State De-
partment thought it had sound rea-
son to believe that Gov Gen. Charles
Nogues of Morocco would cooperate
with American troops. but instead
he stood firm by Vichy.
1t was learned that last winter
Gov. Gen. Nogues requested the
United States not to propaganda
Morocco and promised that he
would see to it that no Axis propa-
ganda was spread there. Moroccan
natives whom he found in COM
munication with Axis representa-
tives he had summary shot. The
result WAS that Avis nrnno no nda IL,