The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-12-11
Three-Way French Attitude

With the recognition given to Darlan in Africa by the
British American forces though it stated to be
only temporary act dictated by military expediency there
has been created three split the attitude of the French
nation toward the prosecution of the We must
that have the present LavaVchy with its adher
opposed French still accepting the leadership of
Daran and the French
This situation which defeats all efforts toward unity
of the nation of France and not condition conducive to
maximum aid to the Allies in the effort.
The people Britain voice strong open crit
coalition with Darlan the groups represents
and leads Up to the time of the invasion of Africa bv the
Allies Daran could be considered nothing but of
the Hitler philosophy He had been counted of the
berayers of French democracy Only DeGaule had been
recognized opponent of the fascist deoogy the
French leader whose entire devoted the reora
of the French republic There particular
to believe that Daan stands today for return to France of
for and by its people than does Laval
There would to be only for the action of
dealing with Darlan to create division the fascist forces
and at the same e gam ne assistance Oh one OF the groups
of the division Whether this action will dividends suf
to offset the natural resentment of DeGaue the
Free French forces under him. only the future can tell We
believe that this question had been carefully weighed by
the military leaders responsible for the traffic with Daran
However ignoring DeGaue does not spell fair play
Particularly is this true of the action in recognizing of
the old guard of French generals the commander of the
French armed forces This humiliation must be deeply re
scented by DeGaue and by the considerable forces which
have looked him their leader since the collapse
of the French republican form of government.
There is of another question that to the
thinking American people well to the British and it is
question of real Importance and tremendous in it's i'm
pcatons That question of ethics and badly stated
this Can the Allied Nations with their war
deal any way with leaders whose recognized back
grounds ascsc for what appears
of gaining temporary advantages deal with them
and compromise the principles for which the Allied Nations
fighting the war?
It is true that Darlan speaks the resurrection of
France but does he by that the France
peoples government under which
will again enjoy the freedoms he enjoyed there
enjoy them here? We have statement that
kind by him. Does his advocacy Resurrection
France imply restoration to the French people of the -Four
Freedoms? {
would that these questions that the who
traffcked with Daran must have considered had
answered to their complete satisfaction That is RESPONSE
bity which they owed to the American people, They will
be affected benecay adversely by their decision may
may not spell preservation of democracy it
now, in United States
1t is thing that must be carefully thought through
prejudice by the American people, They
enge the good faith and sincerity of their leaders,
the other hand they entitled in the
Four Freedoms question the acts of their leaders,
have definite to the questions perplexng them