Evening star., 1942-05-05
i. ). BIunt|y Warns
Vichy Not TO Oppose
British Occupation
Resistance Act Of War
Against United Nations,
Henry-Hoye Is Told
By the Associated Press.

HenV-Hoye Is Told
By the Associated Press
British troops were occupying
the northern tip Of Madagascar
today and American forces were
pledged to fight any Axis attempt
to grab the great French island
which the japanese apparently
had hoped to Wrest from the
weak and possibly willing hands
of Vichy.
The coup by a British land and
sea force was announced here and
In London last night. Dropping its
kid-glove policy in dealing with
Wchy. the United States warned
bluntly that if pro-Nazi Pierre
Laval's government permitted a
warlike act against the occupying
forces 1t would be an act of war
against the United Nations.
The British move thwarted any
Japanese plans to seize Madagascar
either by force or by a protective"
occupation agreement similar to the
one under which Japan took over
French Indo-China last summer as
a springboard for war against
Britain and the United States. Re-
cent Axis diplomatic. maneuvering
has pointed toward such deal.
Guards Vital Sea Lanes.
Madagascar guards the United
Nations sea lanes to the Middle
East, India and China. japanese
possession of the island would have
made the defense of India extremely
hazardous and might even have af-
forded a foothold for an assault on
Africa itself.
The Washington statement said
Vichy Ambassador CASTOR Henry
Haye, summoned to the State De-
r1artment at $3.50 o'clock last night,
was given this information:
The President of the United
States has been informed that Ma
dagascar has been occupied by
British forces. This occupation has
the full approval and support of the
Government of the United States.
The island of Madagascar presents
the definite danger to the United
Nations of occupation or use by the
Axis powers, especially Japan. Such
occupation by the Axis powers would
constitute a definite and serious
danger to the United Nations, in
their fight to maintain the kind of
civilization to which France and to
Which the United Nations have been
se long accustomed.
To Be Restored to France.
THE Government OF the United
States is at war with the Axis DOW
ers and if it becomes necessary or
desirable for American troops or
ships to use Madagascar in the COM
mon cause, the United States will
not hesitate to do so at any time.
The United States and Great
Britain are in accord that Madagas-
car will, of course, be restored TO
France after the war or at any time
the occupation of Madagascar is no
longer essential to the common
cause Of the United Nations. -
In view of"-the fact@4that the
island of Madagascar will be held
in trust for France, in order to pro-
tect it from attack by any one of the
Axis powers, any warlike act per-
mitted by the French government
against the government OF Great
Britain or the Government of the
United States would. Of necessity.
have to be regarded by the Govern
ment OF the United States as an at
tack upon the United Nations as a
whole"
In Line With Warning.
The occupation was In line with
President Roosevelt's warning April
% that the United Nations would
take whatever measures necessary to
prevent the Axis from using Vichy
territory as bases.
cit demonstrated the hardening of
WashingtonS attitude since Lavals
appointment as chief of government
On April Ia. The day before Laval
came to power the State Depart
rnent had announced it would rec
ognize and deal with whatever
French government was in control
locally of French possessions-either
Vichy men or Free French.
An island of nearly 100000 pop
ulation, with an area almost as large
as that of Texas, Madagascar lies in
the Indian Ocean opposite Portu-
guese Mozambique, sheltering the
250-mile-wide Mozambique Channel
OF the African east coast.
Two Cruisers Arrive.
THE east coast is almost straight
line, with a mountain range dowr
the islands backbone. It's acres ar,
devoted TO extensive cultivation O.
rice, tobacco, coffee and hardwoods
sFour days ago the French cruisers
Nontcalm and Marseillaise and th'
submarine tender Jules Verne were
reported to have arrived at NADIA
gascar. Vichy explained they were
there to keep the island out O.
foreign hands.
A British press dispatch said yes
terday that Madagascar reservist
were being called up. A correspond
ent at Tananarive. capital of MAZDA
gascar, was able to get through {
report recently that Free French OF
the island were being rounded vi
and imprisoned under orders Of Ger
Armand Annet.