Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-23
Toxic Attack .
Was Time to
Recall Leahy
Brown Says U.S.MuHed
Chance TO Sway French
By GEO. ROTHWELL BROWN

IT Is unfortunate that the
L bombing of Toxic and other
cities of Japan could not have
synchronized with the abrupt
severance of diplomatic relations
with France.
The recall of Ambassador
Leahy from Vichy, for CONSUL
tation." while an act pointing
to a subsequent act of final rup-
ture. is not the same thing.
The situation in France today
calls for a dramatic appeal.
packed with thrill. to the emo
tons of the French people.
It seems TO this writer, who
lived among the French people
for more than a year during the
old World War, and who came
TO have some insight into their
psychology and their tempera-
ment. that II Under Secretary
of State Welles had h a n d d
passports to the French ambas-
sador in Washington. and had or
dered Admiral Leahy to return
at once. all France would have
been uplifted by that token that
America had seen through the
trickery of Hitler and the trea-
son of Laval, and would have
none of it.
Within the hour, as il were,
came the bombing of Toxic by
American naval planes, hearten-
ing evidence to all the free
world that the thing can be
and will be-done.
True, as this is written. the
reports of these momentous
raids have come only from the
Japanese radio broadcasts, but
there seems little reason for
believing - however unreliable
enemy propaganda may be. and
however much under suspicion
that the Japs would invent
purely imaginary attack.
IF. upon the instant OF the
L break between the Washing
ton government and the puppet
government of Laval, news of
this bombing could have gone
out 10 all the stricken people
of France. what an inspiration
and a pledge of ultimate relief
from their bondage that would
have been.
There is a considerable opin-
ion in Washington that our state
department is temporizing TOO
long with the Nazi stooges Of
conquered France.
Many in important places
here. while refraining from
criticism. do express the private
view that the time has come
for the United States to recog-
niZe the Free French govern
ment, which has been estab-
lished in England.
According to this opinion, the
dramatic and the psychologically
appropriate thing 10 have done
would have been TO send Adj
miral Leahy from Vichy TO
London.
Perhaps. under all the circum-
stances, that would have been
unwise. Perhaps. when the am
baSsador is once at sea. his
course will be changed TO Lon
don. That is, of course. purely
speculative.
But that every effort should
be made by this government to
encourage in the French people
the impulse of revolution and
rebellion almost goes without
saying.
THE French are a people with
u a keen appreciation of the
dramatic.
They must be made 10 realize
Enthusiastically that their own
freedom can be regained. but
only in one way. through a VIC
tory of the United Nations, and
that one of the things the United
Nations are fighting for is the
freedom of France.
This Is certainly true with re-
spect of the United States. 1t
was sympathy and affection for
France which created the basic
state of mind in this country
from which the war psychology
eventually developed.
The recall Of Admiral Leahy
has been kept from the French
public. But not all of Hitler's
secret police can prevent that
recall from reaching the people
OF all France, even in the re-
mote villages of the Vosges. by
the grapevine which flashed
news all over France i'm the
twinkling of an eye, so TO speak.
during the old war. and which
doubtless is working as effic-
iently today.
Surely Yankee ingenuity in
our government in Washington
is smart enough to think up that
dramatic appeal TO the soul and
the emotions of France which is
so urgently needed in this hour.
% YEARS AGO TO-DAY
April -, 1917