Evening star., 1942-04-19
Careful u. S. Step Called Need,
Now That LavaPs Power Rises
Not Only Is Vichy Politician Slippery Customer
but Inept Policies Can Worsen
Already Bad Situation
By Felix Morley.

point in France Is not surprising Tbs
triumph OF Laval was foreshadowed six
weeks ago in the bitter message sent by
Marshal Petsin to the obSequies for the
victims of r. A. F. mass attacks on war
plants in the suburbs of Paris.
History has already passed Judgment"
Petain asserted. ION this criminal ag-
gression by former ally who not only
left our soldiers to die alone but who.
two years later, has with the most cold
blooded resolution added these innocent
civilians to the toll"
1t is against this tragic background
that one must confront the issue posed
by Laval's acquisition of power. assum-
ing 1t is desired to see that issue in its
full proportions. And together with the
background there is, for France. the ter
rible consideration OF the projected
second front against Germany. Such
front, important though 1t may be for
German defeat, inevitably means that
French soil would again become a
gigantic battlefield.
Would French Army Fights
Present speculation centers on whether
the rise of Laval to power will mean sur
render of the French fleet to Germany,
utilization Of Dakar as an Axis submarine
base against this country, assistance 10 a
Nazi drive in the Near Last or other
spectacularly pro-German actions. Any
or all of these developments are possible.
But more Immediately probable is un-
advertised German preparation
to resist. at the coast of France, any
attempt to form this second front.
II the French Army is freed from
armistice limitations and reorganized to
combat the establishment OF Anglo
American military bases in France, a
terrible dilemma will confront the United
Nations. On the one hand would be the
great difficulty of defeating Germany
without first conquering France; on the
other would be the prospect of pushing
France irrevocably into the German
camp If conquest were attempted.
There is undoubtedly much subter-
ranean hostility to Laval and his policies
throughout France today. Would it con-
tinue II French troops were called into
action by his command to resist what
would undoubtedly be depicted as an
aggressive invasion of French soil7
1t is impossible for the layman to give
an answer to that key question. But our
Embassy at Vichy, where Admiral Leahy
has been doing so admirable Job under
adverse circumstances, is in a position
to provide the administration with the
information necessary for well-informed
and careful Judgment. Therefore It
seems vital that this listening post should
be maintained as long as possible, even
though Admiral Leahy has been recalled
''for consultation"
There is no longer any British dipio-
matte representation in unoccupied
France and probably there is nothing
Hitler would like better than to have
our channel of communication also
closed. The secret OF Nazi success
throughout has been lack Of accurate In
formation on the part of Germany's
opponents.
u. 8. Needs Careful Steps Now.
There is at present appropriate en-
phasis on the supreme Importance Of our
prOQucIlOH program as the eSSentlal
basis for direct military effort. But
scarcely less important, though less ad-
vertised, is the necessity for policies
which will not make the military task
even more arduous. 1t is by no means
certain that all the intelligence of which
this country is capable was applied to
forwarding a solution of the Indian i'm
passe. To have failure there followed
by any stupidity in handling the thorny
French problem would be disastrous.
The mere fact of LavaIs return to
power shows that Germany has scored a
trick in the diplomatic struggle over
PROSTATE France. But before his new
authority can be consolidated much can
be done to retrieve an adverse situation.
The task should be easier because Laval
Is so thoroughly mistrusted by many Of
his fellow citizens and because the deep
roots of French friendship for the United
States are still alive in spite of the little
that has been done to nurture them.
Nevertheless it must not be forgotten
that Pierre Laval is a smooth and slip
(See MORLEY Page RAY