Evening star., 1942-05-17

ways respected its engagement and
no change in the constitution of the
new government could lead it to
modify its attitude.
s. Recent declarations made to
Admiral Leahy show that not only
the chief of the French government
never thought of repudiating the en-
gagement taken by Vichy with the
United States but on the contrary
in the clearest manner his desire
to do nothing which could affect
French and American relations.
Protest on L. S. Mixing in"
7. The French government pro-
tests against the American Gov
ernment'S mixing in French internal
politics. In placing in doubt official
affirmations made in the name of
the French government the Depart
ment of State adopts an offensive
attitude towards our country, which
intends to conserve its liberty and
choose its government.
8. The Federal Government in
acting as it has vis-a-viS the French
people is committing a grave psy-
Geological error which results with
out doubt from maneuVerS carried
out in the United States by emigre
Frenchmen and rebels against their
/ country who are carrying out in
foreign land partisan fights from
which France already has suffered
SO much.
9. The Federal Governments pro-
posal which, if accepted, would
strike from the French government
not only of national sovereignty
| but of the exercise of essential
rights in colonies which have been
French territory for three centuries
10. In refusing to Admiral Robert,
French high commissioner of the
Antilles, the right to report on his
| administration to the only French
authorities to whom he is RESPONSE
BILE and from whom he holds power,
had made demand which the
/ French government has a right to
/ reject.
/ "a ihhssASS Il SAhNas
II. The French government also
! demands that French merchant
ships at present immobilized in ports
/ of the Antilles be turned over to it.
It is well known that this handing
over is formally prohibited by the
armistice conditions. If the French
government submits to such an
American demand it would violate
| the arnistice convention and this
hypothesis, because of the conse-
quences it would lead to, cannot
/ be envisaged by the French govern
ment.
II. The Federal government in
/ demanding immobilization of war
/ ships in the Antilles appears to
/ fear use Of this force against Amer
lean interests, the Federal govern
ment is unable to find a single ar
! gument of military character to
| justify such pretentions.
13 The French government which
never violated its word reaffirms,
in order to eliminate any misunder-
standing in this regard, its will to
strictly respect the engagement to
which it already has subscribed.
H. The French government today
solemnly affirlns that it will never
take responsibility for an act which
could compromise our relations with
| the American people 1t can make
this statement: While remaining
faithful to obligations which were
caused it by the armistice conven-
tions, it has preserved its independ-
ence and its freedom.
Is, The French government is dis
posed to envisage and to negotiate
through the Intermediary of Ad-
miral Robert all proposals which
might be made to it while respect
| ing French sovereignty and neutral
ity, tending to modify statutes of
our possessions in the Western Hem
isphere and which would give every
guarantee to the Federal Govern
ment on immobilization of our war
and merchant ships, it being clearly
specified that in no case these may
be used by the United States.
Is. The Federal Government,
which knows France is in a state
of misfortune and that she is do
ing everything to assure her resto-
ration in keeping with her noble
national traditions, would take a
heavy responsibility before history
by breaking, through unjustified vio-
lence, the ties of friendship which
have always united our two peoples.