Evening star., 1942-01-17

with the approval of the imperial
government, Egypt should have been
asked to treat the Vichy rulers in
the same way as those of Helsinki,
Budapest and Bucharest with whom
the British Empire is now at war.
Indeed, the step was overdue.
Until the beginning of the century
when the entente cordiale began to
run its. course and Foreign Min
lister Delcasse gave England a free
hand for the development Of her
political interests on the Nile as
against her recognition of the Mo-
roccan protectorate he wanted to
set up, Frances influence was un-
paralleled in the land OF the
Khedive. But what remains OF 1t
to this day-and the extent of its
survival speaks we'll for the broad
mindedness of British policy-is OF
such magnitude as to prove dan
gerous to the common cause unless
the men who control it deserve to be
trusted.
Powerful French Colony.
There are no less than $4,000
Frenchmen including 5000 North
Africans settled in Egypt. Their To-
cal inves TIN ments were officially
valued in 1886 at the huge sum of
Is 900, 100000 francs or 250,00000
Egyptian pounds. The company OF
the Suez Canal-with an omnipotent
French general manager on the spot,
Baron De Benoist, with large staff
and numerous employees, factories,
naval yards, hospitals, many re-
ligious establishments, etc.-makes a
powerful colony.
Free France reigns over that little
state within the state Baron De
Benoist has become the delegate Of
Gen. De Gaulle. Even Tunisians
and Moroccans have focked to the
flag with the Cross Of Lorraine,
striking token Of their loyalty toward
France and of their faith in her
redemption. However, minority
sticks to Marshal Petain.
Months ago the British Ambassa-
dor had to insist upon the closing
Of the French consulates in the ports
of Alexandria, Port Said and Suez.
Finally, London found that it could
not put up any longer with the
presence OF the legation.
Jean Pozzi, the Minister Resident,
an outspoken Anglophile all his life,
tried to remain more or less neutral,
but nobody ever called him man Of
character. And the First Secretary,
! Ducloux. openly boasted in July.
D., 1910, that London would soon fall
to a German attack and promised
to celebrate the event with a dinner
party. British and Egyptians alike
felt apprehensive, before Syria was
occupied, lest. in difference to orders
from the italian Commission of Dis
armament at Beirut. Ducloux and
others should smuggle out valuable
military information. g.
Fleet Caused Uneasiness.
Not only the legation but the
"neutralized" French fleet anchored
off Alexandria, prompted uneasy
feelings. The warships have been
allowed to retain their radio sets
and newspaper was published, the
journal de la Flotte Francaise,"
which regularly fed hostility towards
England. Has that state of affairs
been corrected at last? We do not
know. 1a
Another instance of British for
bearance can be recorded. A train
of supplies from Ethiopia is allowed
to reach blockaded Djibuti every
Friday which explains how French
Sorhaliland still resists. But such
anomalies are bound, sooner or later,
to come to an end.
Frances permanent interests In
Egypt and elsewhere will be served
better by the recall of Vichy's official
representatives than by the pro-
longation of their activities. To
Egyptians, France is, traditionaIy.
the nation of st. Louis and Ma
poleon.
French interests will not be Sc
questered in Egypt. 1t will be open
to every one concerned to turn for
protection to the Spanish Legation
or to the Free French National Com
mittee. Thus a plebiscite OF a kind
will take place. a..
(Released by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Ine)
80