The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-05-04
FRENCH DISPUTE
BORES AMERICANS
Argument, Also Involving
Poles, Key to Situation
in Europe After War
BY HARRISON SALISBURY
United Press Staff Correspondent

| OVtSAh OVAA S<'PNAA-~
London. May 4.-UP)-Ameri-
cans are probably bored by the con-
fusing disputes involving the French
the Poles and other refugee govern
ments but they should be required
reading for anyone interested IN
what Europe is going to be like once
the war is over.
The prospects are for a steady
increase in controversies involving
refugee states in direct ratio to the
nearness of Allied victory.
From an analysis of rows which
already have broken out pretty
clear pattern of peace table squab-
bles can be foreseen.
| The French controversy which is
probably the most involved OF all
also Is the most important since the
basic issue is how and who is going
to control the biggest and most i'm
portant country in Europe after
Russia and Germany. There is not
only the question of which French
faction is going to come out on top,
There also is the question OF what
nations are going to win Frances
friendship and influence.
The same thing is true compar-
ably of Poland, Greece and Jugo-
slavia as VIII as the Axis satellite
states, virtually all of which now
have various refugee groups either
in London or New York or Wash
ington hopeful Of taking over power
once the home countries are liber-
ated and the war ends.
At present, Allied relations with
all refugee governemnts are on a
more or less day-to-day basis. But
once Allied troops march into Eu-
rope whole series OF political issues
may be opened.
Comparably, Allied relations with
Gen. Charles De Gaulle's French
national committee-while often
contentious no major crises
before the invasion of Africa. Once
major French possessions were freed,
however, the Allied faced a host of
| problems.
The same thing is going to happen
once American and British troops
march into Greece, Jugoslavia, Italy
and other countries.
AS a matter of fact, the outline
Of difficulties in Jugoslavia is per-
fectly plain already. The split be-
tween Gen. Draja Mikhailovich who
is fighting the axis in his native
lard and the Jugoslav partisans will
present the Allies with the same
kind of headache they now have
with Gen. De Gaulle and Gen.
Henri Giraud.
Russia is involved in Jugoslavia
Just as in France, supporting the
partisanS and De Gaulle.
The situation in Greece follows
the same kind OF a pattern. The
Greek government represents con-
servati elements. But there is a
large group among Greek refugees
which takes a much more liberal
line and already has expressed most
vigorously its opposition to men,
bers of the present Greek govern
ment. When, as and If the Allies
move into Greece, this row is bound
to be aggravated despite the pledge
of the Greek refugee government
to hand over its power to native
countrymen as soon as possible.
The iss'le is somewhat simpler in
countries like Italy and Bulgaria
where the Allies land in enemy ter
ritory. But where the land is friend
" to the Allies, the territory and
civil powers must be handed over to
native leaders quickly. And wherever
there is division among the natives
there is going to be first class row
no matter which faction is favored
by the Allies.
From this standpoint the coun-
tries of northern Europe will be less
trouble. 1t is not believed that AL
lied landings in Norway or Holland
would pose political problems. Bel
GUM. however, is likely to have its
crop of trouble because of King Leo
pold's anomalous position.