Darlan Master of Policy in Africa

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 192, 14 August 1941, Page 5

Darlan Master of Policy in Africa

OMINOUS SIGNS SEEN IN NEW APPOINTMENT

LONDON, Aug. 12. A Berlin radio report xroin Vichy states that Admiral Darlan has been appointed Minister of Defence, and General Huntziger Secretary for War Affairs. M. Pierre l’ucheux, who was Secretary of tho Interior, is now Minister of the Interior. The changes were decided upon during the week-end talks. The report adds that Vichy political quarters attach particular importance to the latter appointment, but states that tho appointments have not yet been officially confirmed in Vichy. The agency transmitting the report offers the opinion that the appointment of Darlan as Defence Minister, with General Huntziger in a minor post, appears to indicate that Darlan, who holds in his hands the reins of policy in North Africa, now has the means to

execute such policy. The Vichy correspondent of the British United Press says that Darlan, as Minister of National and Empire Defence, will have the Ministers of Air, the Navy and War serving under him. The Vichy News Agency announced that decrees being issued to-day were expected to increase Darlan ’a powers, especially in the military sphere. Another report from Vichy says that th* l Government is expected neither flatly to reject nor completely to accept the

Gorman proposals, and, according to the Vichy correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, French officials are confident that nothing approaching a'rupture between America and France is in the air.

It is believed in Washington that Germany has asked Vichy to delay the announcement of its decision on the German demands for bases in North Africa and French collaboration in the war against Russia until after the United States Congress finishes its consideration of the Bill to extend the period of compulsory military service. The delay would be designed to avoid arousing the fears of Congress that the threat to America had increased, thus weakening the hand of the isolationists, upon whom Hitler depends to put a very strong brake on anj- move by the United States towards direct involvement iu the war.

It goes without saying, however, that the United .States is likely to abandon even the formality of friendly relations with Vichy if the French accede to the German demands. Tne Americans will unquestionably follow President Roosevelt’s lead in resisting the transfer of Dakar and other strategic points On the Atlantic to the Axis.

Vichy's decision, whichever way it goes, will only serve to emphasise what Americans are beginning to that it is not a question of the United otates becoming involved iu the war through its own volition, but of the war creeping closer to the United States every day.