Evening star., 1942-05-22
Free French Rift


Free French Rift
Internal friction within the De
Gaullist regime in Frances Pacific
island of New Caledonia has brought
into the open a serious situation
inside the Free French movement
which has long been growing more
pronounced. Similar friction exists
in Syria. Equatorial Africa and other
French possessions under Free
French control. but New Caledonia's
strategic importance makes the
trouble there of especial significance.
That island is a vital link in the
supply route between America and
Australia and recently was occupied
by American forces to forestall a
japanese attack. This occupation
was welcomed by the Free French
authorities, and is undoubtedly
acceptable to both local factions.
Nevertheless, internal diSsension,
amounting to what is described as
administrative decentralization. is a
dangerous element of weakness when
the japanese menace calls for COM
plete unity of effort.
However unfortunate. those diff
culties were probably inevitable. The
Free French movement began as an
almost purely military protest by
army and navy men who refused to
abide by the terms Of the armlStice
signed by the Petain regime estab-
lished at Vichy after the collapse of
France in the summer of 1910. With
British aid they gained control over
the French colonies in Equatorial
Africa and Oceania, plus the small
French settlements In India. This
gave them a territorial basis for
their authority. and some Of the
Free French spokesmen at once
began to press for diplomatic recog-
milton by Britain as a government
in exile" entitled to speak and act
for their countrymen under German
domination.
This, however. the British govern
ment has not done. and our Govern
ment has similarly withheld diplo-
matte recognition. though aiding
the Free French and collaborating
with them wherever they were in
effective control of colonial territory
The reason is that Free France"
has been. and remains. basically a
military movement headed by army
and navy officers dedicated to the
rescue Of France from the Axis by
force of arms The original idea OF
General de Gaulle. professional
soldier, included no political pro-
gram. France was to be redeemed
After that. political reconstruction
could be taken up. Apparently, the
general has not changed his mind.
Certainly, no prominent French
political figures have played leading
roles in the Free French movement,
and there is evidence that many, II
not most, of the De Gaullist officers
want it to be kept on a military
basis But, at the same time, even
they would like larger measure of
recognition for practical reasons,
while the politically minded minority
want full diplomatic status as
government in exile" with British
and American commitments as to
their position at the peace settle
ment.
This opens up troublesome posi-
bilities. The political system of the
Third Republic collapsed largely
because of it's internal weaknesses
and is pretty obviously discredited
in the minds of the French people.
No matter how much the mass of
Frenchmen detest the present Pc
tain-Laval regime at Vichy, there is
no reason to believe they would wish
to see the old political setup fully
re-established. Probably no one
knows exactly what is fermenting in
the minds Of the French people,
This fluid and unpredictable situa-
ton can hardly be met by treating a
group of exiles. mostly military and
naval men with neither political
experience nor constitutional author
ity. as valid spokesmen and archi-
tects for the new France that will
emerge after the war. 1t is admit
tedly a most difficult problem, but
the British and American govern
ments seem justified in their eau
tious diplomatic policy.