FRENCH AFRICA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 286, 3 December 1941, Page 10

FRENCH AFRICA

GERMAN SQUEEZE

VICHY IN QUANDARY

DOUR FUTURE FOR NAZI

VASSALS

(By PERTINAX)

From a direct diplomatic source :t is reported that the Nazi Government recently tried once more to have the naval and air bases at Bizerte, in French North Africa, put at the disposal of the Wehrmacht. That step indicates that the German military command, however deeply involved in Russia, never loses sight of the Mediterranean area where the fight is expected to be resumed in the next few months. Notwithstanding what happens in the military operations in eastern Europe in the meantime, French North Africa remains a permanent requirement of German strategy. For the third or fourth time in a year, the Vichy Government turned down the request. But was it pressed very hard upon Admiral Darlan? The indications are that it was not. The matter is not of real urgency. At the present moment, the Germans are more concerned about the Atlantic coast of Morocco and Western French Africa (Casablanca and Dakar) which can help them to hold their own in the battle of the Atlantic than about the Tunis coastline. Moreover, as long as General von Stuelpnagel shoots hostages in Paris, the Vichy Government, which must contribute to the repression, is hardly in a position to carry the policy of co-operation another step forward. Effect of Russian Resistance A sign that Darlan's fundamental ideas continue unaltered may be found in the recent departure, on indefinite leave, of Charles Rochat, the permanent head of the French diplomatic service, that last survivor of the group of officials who, under Alexis Leger, upheld the traditional friendship with England and the United States.

The truth is that, from west to east, all vassals of the Nazi Empire benefit under some form from Russia's stubborn resistance to the invader. As the war with the Soviet Union heavily taxes German man power and resources, as the hopes of the defeated nations rise again, the orders and wishes of the Reichsfuhrer are not complied with so fully or so passively as before. Even the Italian and Hungarian allies of Germany share in the relief.

Some authentic information is now to hand about the discussions between Hitler and Mussolini from August 25 to 29 and between Hitler and Regent Nicholas Horthy of Hungary from September 7 to 10.

It is the same tale all over again. Hitler, who, last June, was dreaming of starting a European crusade against Bolshevism, attempted to induce the Fascist dictator to send more troops to Russia. Mussolini answered that the Italians could not fight in the Russian climate and he merely offered to take over from the German Army and garrison more conquered territories; The interesting " point is that an agreement proved very hard to reach about the districts to be placed under Italian occupation, some of them being looked at as hard jobs and others as soft ones. Outlook For Vassal States The same kind of difficulty arose with Admiral Horthy. The chief ot" the Hungarian General Staff had promised General Wilhelm Keitsl, German Chief of Staff, that Hungarian troops would campaign in Russia. He was dismissed on Hitler's complaint that he had not kept his word. But his successor, General Szombathyeli, on being asked to take charge of Serbia, explained that 200,000 or 250,000 men would be needed for the purpose and th« alternative proposal he made that Galicia should be handed to the Hungarian Army, did not particularly gratify von Ribbentrop, on account of the political interests at stake.

In the near future, if disaster befell the Red Army, the rope could not fail to be tightened around the neck of the vassals and, this time, for good.—Auckland Star and N.A.N.A.