Evening star., 1942-06-10
Leahy Would Maintain
Diplomatic Relations
With vichyGroup
Returned Envoy Urges
Extension Of Practicable
Aid to French People

A policy of maintaining diplomatic
relations with Vichy and extending
all possible aid to the French people
that does not benefit the Axis had
the public support today Of Admiral
William D. Leahy, United States
Ambassador to France.
The people Of France are prac-
ticaly unanimously pro-American
and hopeful Of . defeat Of the Axis
powers" Admiral Leahy, former
chief Of naval operations, said late
yesterday in his first press con-
ference since his recent return from
Vichy for consultation with Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Secretary of
State Hull.
He also expressed q high per-
sonal regard" for Marshal Petain,
aged French chief Of state, and
said:
He is under constant and cruel
pressure from the invader which
makes 1t extremely difficult for him
to accomplish much that he wishes
to do for the relief Of France.
Aid Not Specified.
TT is my personal opinion" he
declared, that every practicable
assistance should be given by Amer
lea to the French people, provided
always that such assistance is Of no
benefit to the Axis powers"
Although he did not specify what
type OF assistance he had In mind,
he presumably referred to pro-
posals for resumption of shipments
OF medicines and milk for the chill
dren Of unoccupied France and non-
military supplies TO French North
Africa-about theonly types of ma
terial aid subject to controls making
sure that there Is no indirect benefit
to Germany.
Maintenance Of diplomatic rela-
tions with the changing government
Of France" Admiral Leahy ex-
planned. has up to the present time
made it possible to assist the French
people In keeping alive their hope
for eventual deliverance from their
oppressors.
This also has enabled the United
States to keep the Vichy govern
ment informed of our attitude
toward action that has been con-
templated from time to time by the
Axis powers to further their war
effort" he pointed out, adding:
so far as I know, except for the
agreement entered into between
France and Japan In Indo- China.
no positive action taken by the
French government since the armi-
stice has been of material military
assistance to the Axis powers"
Axis Defeat Prime Concern.
In urging assistance for the
French people. Admiral Leahy said
he had in mind the essential pur-
pose" on which all American policy
and action should be based-that Of
defeating the Axis effort to en-
slave the world"-as well as the
traditional friendship between
America and France"
He described France now as COM
pletely submerged under an invasion
Of barbarians who have seized most
of the country's material resources
and have destroyed much Of the
spiritual possessions Of the people"
The French people, he said, ARE
suffering from a complete military
defeat, are unorganized, inarticu-
late and have no influence what.
ever on the composition or policy
Of the government" He emphasized,
however, that there is no other
agency than the government
through which we can maintain
contact with the French people"
He did not mention specifically
the recent rise to power as chief OF
government of Pierre Laval, pro-
Axis collaborationist, but pointed
out that composition of the Vichy
government has changed from
time to time" and said that it will
continue to change In the future"