The Southland Times FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1940. Hitler's Aims in France

Southland Times, Issue 24272, 1 November 1940, Page 4

The Southland Times FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1940. Hitler's Aims in France

Marshal petain’s speech to the French people contained, amid many ambiguous and obscure statements, a plain announcement that he had accepted the principle of collaboration with Germany. He said that the “meth'od and application” will be announced later; but he added a comment which conveys a sinister meaning to those who distrust the Vichy Government. “Although aggression must be excluded,” he said, “France has numerous obligations to the victor, and France’s sovereignty imposes the obligation to defend her soil.” Against whom could France be defended in the present circumstances ? Certainly not against Germany and Italy, for they are the victors whom the aged Marshal is so painfully anxious to please. The only conceivable “enemy” is Britain, the nation that is fighting for the liberation of Europe. It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to convince Frenchmen that they should now bear arms with their former enemy against their former ally. But it might not be impossible to persuade them that a new situation in the Mediterranean is making it necessary to collaborate with Germany in the defence of their cwn coastline. The true picture of events is not presented to the people of France, and centralized control is taking the rigidity of a dictatorship. French colonies have already been deprived of their provincial administration, and are being ruled by Governors invested with a supreme local power. This action, which has only just been announced, looks like a preparation for a transfer of authority to new masters. Such a step might precipitate a crisis if the colonists were free to influence their rulers, and it is believed in London that there is a growing tendency to resist Germany’s “peace” terms. The extreme carefulness of Marshal Petains speech suggests that resentment and anxiety are spreading even in France. It is possible, however, that the optimistic message from a correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor, reported this morning, is based partly on official propaganda. A claim “on the highest French authority” that all rumours of forthcoming concessions to Hitler are untrue does not receive much support from Marshal Petain’s speech. The French Navy

Readers must decide for themselves how far the Vichy Government will resist German pressure, or where its inclinations really lie. But there can be only one view of Hitler’s requirements. The next major phase of the war is clearly developing in the Mediterranean. British sea power is the main obstacle, and the Italian Navy is unable to control the sea routes to North Africa. If the Nazis are to make any serious attempt to overcome this difficulty they must have the use of naval bases. Moreover, it is doubtful if they would remain satisfied with bases only. Although a great part of the French fleet is out of action, or sailing under the Tricolour of General de Gaulle, the surviving units would be extremely useful to the Germans. According to a British estimate, the French Navy now comprises one battle cruiser of 26,000 tons, four cruisers of 10,000 tons, four light cruisers, about 55 torpedo-boats, and about 50 submarines. The submarines alone would be a valuable help to the Germans. We believe that the Royal Navy would be able to resist any challenge to its supremacy in the Mediterranean. But a challenge of some kind is obviously necessary if Hitler is to proceed with the changed plans that have been forced upon him by the failure of the air attacks on Britain. These facts are the key to the negotiations which have been taking place between the Nazis and the men of Vichy. It would be a false hopefulness which denied the possibility of French subservience. Resistance to Germany’s demands can come only from the French people themselves. In British countries it will be hoped that such a resistance, which may already be potential, will develop rapidly and plainly enough to prevent the acceptance of a shameful bargain.