Evening star., 1943-05-03
Cruckdown on Martinique

Crockdown on Martinique
The strongly worded note ad-
dressed by the State Department to
Admiral Georges Robert, high COM
missioner of the French Antilles,
marks the close of long and un-
satisfactory diplomatic episode. Ever
since the fall of France, nearly three
years ago, the bearded little admiral
has been problem child for Ameri-
can diplomacy. Expediency hitherto
has led our Government to treat him
with a forbearance which his stub
born evasiveness did not deserve.
But the moment has come when
stronger measures would seem
called for.
The State Departments note sew
ers political relations with Admiral
Robert and terminates all arrange
ments previously made with him. 1t
was presented to him by the Ameri-
can Consul General at Fort-de-
France, Martinique, Admiral Roberts
seat OF authority, and was given
added emphasis by the fact that our
Consul, Mr.. Malige, announced his
forthcoming return to the United
States. Mr.. Malige possessed .diplo-
matte powers enabling him to nego-
tiate with Admiral Robert. The Vice
Consul, who remains, has no such
diplomatic status and will be charged
solely with the protection OF Ameri-
can interests. The last personal link
is thereby severed, and the admiral
henceforth will have to deal at long
range with Washington.
Our note certainly does not mince
words and its meaning is unmis-
taxable. Pointing out that metro
politan France sis now an integral
part of the Nazi SYSTEM" it inferen-
TALLY charges that Admiral Robert
takes his orders from that system
when 1t states that "the Government
of the United States does not recog-
nize Vichy, nor will it recognize or
negotiate with any French repre-
sentative in the Antilles who remains
subservient to or maintains contact
with the Vichy regime" 1t further
points out that the islands of Mar
Unique and .Guadeloupe, Roberts
bailiwick, "are the only French ter
ritories physically free from Axis
domination which have no part in
the struggle for French liberation
and which profess allegiance to a
regime under the direct control of
Germany" Under these circum-
stances our break with Robert be-
comes inevitable.
This rupture comes as a climax to
a process of economic pressure ap-
piled by our Government ever since
last November, when it stopped food
shipments to the French Antilles.
Since those islands, specializing on
sugar and other tropical products,
are not self-feeding in basic food
stuffs, this virtual blockade has
worked great hardship and has
aroused growing discomfort among
the local population. Many refugees
who have escaped to neighboring
British islands report deplorable liv-
ing conditions and harsh repression.
The indications are that the mass of
the population would welcome the
end OF a regime which condemns
them to misery and isolation. The
military and naval forces under Ad-
miral Robert seem to be strong
enough to maintain his authority,
but would be unable to make more
than token resistance to an Ameri-
can occupation.
However, it is by no means certain
that our Government meditates i'm
mediate recourse to force. The note
makes no mention of any such ac-
ton, and the larger repercussions Of
an armed clash would perhaps be as
regrettable now as they would have
been In the past. It may be inter-
preted, therefore, as a drastic diplo-
matte squeeze-play to force the
admirals hand, discredit him further
with his own subordinates and pos
sibly incite the local population to
overthrow him. This actually hap
pened recently in French Guiana,
where the local governor, loyal to
Robert and Vichy, was dispossessed
by a popular movement and was re-
placed by regime which declared
its solidarity with the regime in
French North Africa headed by Gen.
eral Giraud. A similar development
in the French Antilles probably
would be the happiest solution OF a