The Press MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1941. Vichy and the Democracies

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23494, 24 November 1941, Page 4

The Press MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1941. Vichy and the Democracies

The Vichy Government’s dismissal of General Weygand from the position of Delegate-General in North Africa has precipitated an overdue crisis in relations between Vichy France and the democracies. Britain’s attitude to Vichy France, particularly over the blockade question, has never been clearly defined. It would seem that in practice, and partly because of American pressure, the British Government ha§ not interfered with food shipments to Marseilles, notwithstanding its declared belief that a large proportion of these shipments goes ultimately to Germany. War materials consigned to Marseilles have been intercepted whenever possible on the ground that industries in unoccupied France are working for Germany, Again in deference to American wishes, however, Vichy-controlled French Africa has been treated differently from metropolitan France. On the assumption that General Weygand would not allow North Africa to fall under German influence and that given sufficient encouragement he might even, if “ collaboration ” went too far, align himself with the democracies, America has for the greater part of this year been maintaining “normal trade” with Vichy’s African colonies. The British Government evidently had wind of ominous developments in the colonies even before General Weygand’s dismissal, for on November 17 it was “ authoritatively stated ’’ in London that Britain had decided it was impossible.for blockade purposes to distinguish between occupied and unoccupied France and would henceforth treat metropolitan France, Tunisia, Algeria, and French Morocco as enemy-occupied territory in the application of contraband controls. The omission of French West Africa from this list was presumably in order to avoid a conflict of policy with Washington, since Dakar has been the main channel of American trade with the French colonies. In the meantime, however, there has also been a-change of heart in Washington. The State Department has abruptly suspended American trade with French Africa and indicated that American' policy towards Vichy is being re-examined. Concerning the circumstances and the precise significance of General Weygand’s dismissal there is as yet no information, though plainly enough it is connected with the British offensive in the Western Desert. The only certain and safe route for supplies and reinforcements to General Rommel is by way of French North Africa; and it is probable that some use has been made of this route in the past. Moreover, General Rommel would no doubt be glad to lay his hands on the supplies of American oil which have reached French North Africa in the last six months—if he has no.t already done so. For Britain it is a difficult and dangerous situation, since a crisis in the Western Mediterranean before the great battle now being waged in the Western Desert is concluded would be a serious embarrassment. It is, however, a situation which will cause little surprise. To everyone except a few State Department officials it has long been apparent that the Vichy Government’s policy at home and in its colonies is governed by its relations with Germany and not by its relations with the democracies. Men like Marshal Petain and General Weygand may aspire to uphold France’s independence and national honour; but when it comes to the pinch they can only do what Germany permits.. There is not much point in declaiming against the perfidy of the “ men of Vichy,” for as long as France is militarily helpless she will have the sort of government she has now. Some good will come out of the collapse of the State Department’s efforts to win over Vichy’s African colonies by kindness if it leads the democracies to adopt a more realistic attitude to those countries now living under the shadow of the German war machine. The British Government, for instance, adopts towards Spain substantially the same attitude as the State Department has been adopting towards Vichy. Since the Spanish Government has no more real independence than Vichy, it is predictable that the outcome will be the same. For the present it suits Germany that Spain should have just enough independence to secure a relaxation of the blockade in her favour; when it suits Germany that Spain should play a more active role in the Axis system of alliances, Spain will do so. The belief that Sir Samuel Hoare is keeping Spain out of Germany’s clutches is as dangerous as it is unwarranted. It is also possible tp hope that their disillusionment over Vichy will lead the democracies, particularly the United States, to be more positive in their attitude towards the Free French movement of General de Gaulle, which is at present seriously handicapped by lack of American recognition and consequent ineligibility for Lease-Lend aid. The truth which emerges clearly from the events of the last week is that no French Government which functions on French soil can speak for the French people.