Britain's Challenge To France

Northern Advocate, 23 May 1941, Page 4

Britain's Challenge To France

IT is evident that the intention of the French Colonial Empire, and of me people of France itself, will "soon be demonstrated beyond possibility of misunderstanding. Britain and Germany are to apply the test. Critical days are at hand. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, speaking in the House of Commons, told the men of Vichy plainly that Britain cannot, and will not, hesitate to attack the enemy wherever he may be found on French soil. This decision has been necessitated by the obvious intention of the Vichy Government to give Germany military assistance. Tlie recent developments in Syria, where Germany has been allowed the use of landing grounds, and French war material has been sent to the Iraq rebels, have supplied indisputable evidence of the attitude adopted by Vichy. Mr. Eden’s announcement is therefore pregnant with grave possibilities. So far as Germany is concerned, it is apparent that an effort is being made to set the French in Morocco, and probably in Algeria and Tunisia, against the Free French forces in Equatorial Africa. This move is clearly designed to embarrass Britain in new theatres of war. It remains to be seen whether the Frenchmen of the colonial empire will prove as blind to their nation’s interests as Germany expects, but, whatever may be the developments in the immediate future, Britain can no longer pursue a course of appeasement. It is a war to the death, and Britain must regard it as such: hence the plain speaking to France.