Evening star., 1942-10-18

occupation of various outlying colonies,
by japan, by Great Britain and by Aus
tralia and the United States IN the case
of New Caledonia. But defense OF the
home colonies of Morocco, Algeria and
Tunisia is both physically possible and
is, indeed, essential if an important
source of food for the French people Is
not to be cut off.
That is why an American attack on
Dakar if it were interpreted as prellr1l-
mary to an invasion of North Africa,
would be likely to mean war between
France and the United States.
The relations between Vichy and
Washington have become so bad that
purely sentimental regrets over sl.ch
tragic outcome may seem to many a
secondary matter. 1t can be argued that
the Fighting French and their sympa-
thizers represent the real tradition of
Franco American friendship and that
many in France itself would favor war
against Vichy if this could be expected
to result in overthrow of the Petain-
Laval regime. But the attitude of the
Fighting French is only part of the
picture
In spite Of inescapable and almost
Irresistible pressures from Berlin the
now, maintained at least substantial
neutrality and has given no more Coop
GRAFTON to the Axis than is exacted vir-
tually at the point of the bayonet.
The blockade Of French ports, the
sinking of French ships, the bombings
OF French cities, the seizure of French
colonies-all these have been accepted
almost without protest by the French
people as part of the price they must
pay for disastrous defeat.
On the whole the French people have
accepted their tragic fate with dignity
and fortitude deserving of far more SYM
pathy and appreciation than has been
accorded by their fair-weather friends
IN this country. There has been stead
fast French resistance to the inexorable
German pressures. There continues to
be much evidence of unshakeable faith
in the eventual victory of the United
Nations
Seek to Undermine Morale.
But for nearly two and one-half years
now France has been suffering all the
debllltatlng strains of war without the
help OF that ardor and inspiration which
comes from fighting for a cause. And
Tor all that period the Nazis have been
patiently and not unsuccessfully ex-
! plotting every Anglo-American mistake
| in order to undermine morale and con-
vince the French that their hope for
the future lies in joining with Germany.
Today the course which France will
! eventually follow is unmistakably in the
balance. The outcome may we'll be de-
cided neither by the policies of Laval
nor by the will of the French people, but
by some wholly external action which
will force this pitifully humilated nation
to act in positive fashion for self-preser-
vation.
That is the consideration which would
make an attack on Dakar a matter of
the most fundamental Importance. And,
II attempted, any move against French
North Africa should at least coincide
with convincing evidence that the Ger
man hold in Libya is not as strong as
Gen. Rommel has made it appear. For
at the moment it is rot the United Ma
tions which seem masters of the situ-
alton to these Mohammedan peoples.
Wendell Willkie, returning from his
dramatic tour, observes that one char
acteristic of functioning democracy is
the frank expression of informed civilian
opinion on the political implications of
| military issues.
Only the professional soldiers know
| whether Dakar itself is vulnerable to at
tack. But the far-reaching consequences
OF such a military move might prove so
important, for the future of American
civilization, as to suggest that the most
statesman-like advance consideration
should be given to all the delicate po-
litical factors so clearly involved.