Evening star., 1944-04-16

extended during our struggle for inde-
pendence is still vivid in the minds of
all Americans who also know that France
has never let down the torch Of democ-
racy she has been carrying since 1789.
OF course, there have been numerous
minor frictions, particularly since the
World War. The men who came back
from France in 1919 resented the mig
gardliness Of many penny -pinching
Frenchmen. But these were picayunish
matters On the whole, the American
people felt more kindly toward the
French than any other people in the
world.
It is in this light that President
Roosevelt and his advisers are looking
at the present tragic French situation.
The American Government Is keenly
interested not in the ambitious, self
seeking politicians in and outside France,
but Is interested in restoring to the
people of France their right to choose
their own government. 1t does not want
to appear to be presenting them with a
ready-made government which the in
dividualistic Frenchman may feel is sold
to foreign interest.
This is the background of the admin
ktrations policy toward France. Resto-
ration of that republic to her prewar
freedom was one of the several major
causes which brought us into the war.
De Gaulle Lacks Prestige.
Gen. Charles de Gaulle, the head of
the National Committee of Liberation,
never has enjoyed much prestige in
Washington and he is in even less favor
now because of his obvious desire to
make himself the ruler of France, re-
gardless of the wishes Of $4,000 900
Frenchmen whom the administration
does not want to betray.
The White House and the State De-
partment may not fully comprehend
trends and the psychological concept of
many European countries. But, while
1t has made some serious mistakes in
the last II months regarding the French
situation outside France, it does know
that country and its people better than
any other continental European state.
After the fall of France the Vichy
regime was established under the lead
ership of the aged Marshal Petain. De-
spite strong feelings to the contrary
manifested in many liberal intellectual
quarters In this country, the United
States maintained diplomatic relations
with the new government.
x-varir rJr,,.e a,, hvy hand.
full OF extremely able representatives Of
the American Government viii not be
known In detail until some time after
the war. But 1t can be revealed that
the foundations Of our bloodless inva-
sion Of North Africa, as well as the
guarantee that the French fleet would
never cooperate with the Nazis were
laid by Americans who were at vichy
as early as the summer Of 1s41.
Another Side to vichy.
While Marshal Petain and Admiral
Darlan appeared to the eyes Of the en-
tire world as arch collaborationists, they
had their contacts with Washington.
The determination of the administration
not to break with Vichy was due to the
realization that there was another side
to the vichy picture which could not be
revealed to the public lest vital military
interests be harmed.
The climax to the situation came when
we landed in Morocco and Algeria and
at Algiers found Admiral Darlan, who
had returned allegedly to take care of
his stricken son. Some day, after the
war Is over and when men who had
been in the thick of the plot are allowed
to write their memoirs, the story will be
told that had it not been for young
Darlan's infantile paralysis some other
reason would have sent his father to
North Africa.
Only Americans Landed.
The Allied high command permitted
neither British nor Free French troops
to land with the Americans. The deal
with those who secretly desired the de-
feat of the Germans provided that only
the Stars and Stripes should accompany
the invasion force. 1t was specifically
required that the Croix de Lorraine, the
emblem of Gen. de Gaulle, should not
be shown anywhere.
1t also had been agreed long before
the invasion that no government would
be established in North Africa The
civil authority was to be in the hands
of the French who facilitated the blood
less conquest of North Africa under the
supervision of the American commander
in chief Gen. Eisenhower. Darlan was
known as strong man and it was be-
leved that he would be able to carry
on until such time as the Germans
would be ousted from France and a
true government elected by the French
people themselves would have complete
authority over the French Empire and
continental France.
From the very beginning there was a
divergence of opinion between London
and Washington regarding Gen. de
Gaulle. The British government created
the Free French movement and its
leader by powerful propaganda cam
paign. Gen. de Gaulle was totally un-
known in France, according to our own
well-informed observers. But he was
accepted as token Of resistance by the
French, who hated the Germans and
those cheap politicians who had become
the Germans obedient servants for
purely selfish reasons.
The entire plan for straight deal
for France has been upset by the ambi-
tiops OF Gen, de Gaulle and the some
what overambitious crowd around him
Sought Job for De Gaulle.
The British were anxious to have Gen
de Gaulle 90 to Alpiers som after Al.