VICHY’S BETRAYAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 May 1941, Page 4

VICHY’S BETRAYAL

VICHY has betrayed its trust in allowing the Germans to use the air bases in Syria. Already Nazi planes have arrived in Iraq from Syrian airports. No soldiers appear to have yet been transported but a military mission, propaganda specialists and other “key” men have reached Iraq and it is not difficult to guess what their intentions are. They will doubtless be followed by air-borne troops and equipment, while the possibility pf a landing in Syria from the sea cannot be ruled out. Thus, in return for concessions to the French, Hitler has apparently got what he wants and a new phase in his drive across the Mediterranean now opens. Though it may not show itself immediately in overt military action the underground Nazi machine will be working at full pressure. The position of Britain is clear. Syria is a French mandate held under the League of Nations, but the implications arising from that can now be of little more than academic importance. Britain stands by her declaration of July of last year that “she could not allow Syria to be occupied by a hostile Power or be used as a base for attacks on other countries in the Middle East.” This has been followed by an explicit statement from the Foreign Secretary (Mr Eden) that full authority will be given to take action against the bases in Syria now being used by the Germans, As yet it is not known what other concessions have been made to the Germans, but it appears that the Nazis have considerably eased the burden on the French, so it would not be surprising to find that they have received in return substantial military advantages. One of them is probably an assurance about the attitude the French Syrian army will take towards Nazi infiltration, which may even widen into occupation. The

important thing for Hitler is that he has got a footing on the Asiatic side of the Mediterranean, enabling him to operate in Iraq, Palestine and Transjordania if he wishes. This gives him another stepping stone towards the oilfields of Iraq and towards the Suez Canal. The French people know little of this underground bargain. All the pathetic Marshal Petain has told them, in vague terms, is that, if the present negotiations are successful, France will be able to maintain her rank as a European and Colonial power. He expects from them blind allegiance.