The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1941 FRANCE FACES CRISIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20636, 16 August 1941, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1941 FRANCE FACES CRISIS

Reports from various quarters make it abundantly clear that France is once again facing a crisis of the first magnitude. This is the result of developments in several parts of the world, and the position now created has implications of far-reaching importance. The general tendency is to emphasise the further betrayal of their country by the men of Vichy but, deplorable though this undoubtedly is, it is to be doubted whether this is the most significant feature of the recent changes. After all, the men of Vichy, whatever their personal inclinations, are merely puppets who must dance when Hitler pulls the strings. It may be that their own ambitions and inclinations coincide with the demands of Germany, but even if they did not the German demands would still have to be fulfilled. Neither France nor French honour could be saved if the men of Vichy carried opposition to the length of resignation, for others would soon be found to fill their shoes and the outcome would be the same. Everything that has since occurred flows from the decision of France to abandon her allies and capitulate to the enemy. The lesson to be learned, therefore, is that there can be no peace with Germany except with dishonour, no armistice without abject surrender, and no capitulation without loss of freedom.

These things, however, are not new. What is new are the changes that are occurring in France, and it is important to endeavour to understand their meaning and the reasons underlying them. Obviously, the changes are not of French design but of German instruction, and in this fact there is a good deal of significance. When Germany signed the armistice with France the conditions she imposed were undoubtedly considered to be all that were necessary to enable her to secure her aims. Experience has shown, however, that victory over Britain was not to be so easily obtained and, in consequence, it has become necessary to demand further assistance from France. First and foremost, therefore, the new German demands can be regarded as a confession of German weakness. Her operations have not proceeded according to plan and it is necessary to use France in various ways—to secure the co-opera-tion of French industry, to use French colonies to create diversions for the Allies, and now, perhaps, to obtain the use of the French fleet, or what remains of it, and of French air bases in North Africa. Whatever the requirements of Germany the men of Vichy will have to comply with them. What else can they do? The only hope of salvation is that men outside of Vichy will make a stand. It is becoming more and more clear that France is being divided. Primarily there is the division between continental France and the French colonies, and a secondary factor is the cleavage among people within France itself. At the time of the armistice it may be assumed that the people of France were momentarily stunned. They have since had time to take stock of the situation and to realise something of what Ihey have lost and how pitiful arc their prospects so long as they remain under German domination, In other words, the Germans may have subjected the men of Vichy without much difficulty, but the real question is whether they can kill, or effectively subdue, ffie spirit that is France.

To-day France is under a dictatorship as rigid as that of Germany or Italy, but the freedom-loving people of France will not readily submit to dictation. Strict though the control of news may be, it cannot be possible entirely to suppress information regarding' events in the outside world. The people of France must know something of the epic struggle for freedom put up by Britain, of the fight now being made by Russia, of the war in Syria, of the sacrifice of Indochina, and of the attitude of the United States —and knowing these things they must be inspired by a desire to regain their own freedom. In France, the people are helpless, but in the colonies it is a different story. There, the people are aware of a striking contrast. They know that France itself has become a puppet of Germany and that Indo-China is under Japanese domination. But they know, also, that Syria, after a conflict with the Allies, still retains its freedom and independence. The remaining colonies, therefore, have two courses open to them. If they follow the Vichy road they sign their death warrants and they know that they may have to face opposition from the Allies and even from the United States. The alternative is to defend their freedom. If they do this they will have the full support of Britain and America and there is a good prospect of avoiding serious conflict at all. Fortunately, the United States has maintained contact with the French colonies so that the position will have been fully explained. The future largely depends on General Weygand, and there is probably good foundation for the suggestion that he may clash with Admiral Darlan. If Weygand, drawing on the experience of other colonies and of France itself, is prepared to make a stand for the remainder of the colonies and for the honour of his country, there may be important and far-reaching developments and the name of France may yel be redeemed.