BRITAIN MUST DECIDE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 244, 16 October 1940, Page 5

BRITAIN MUST DECIDE

FRENCH EMPIRE VIRTUALLY AN ENEMY PROBLEMS IN AFRICA (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright; BOSTON, Oct. 14. Asserting that Dakar had been in German hands since early July, the crew of the Polish freighter Rozewie told how they escaped across minefields on July 5, when a German mission arrived by plane. The ship had since traded in South American waters. Britain is reviewing the whole situation at Dakar, the French West African port, where fresh developments cannot long be delayed, says a London commentator. Germans and Italians are continuing to infiltrate into Daka)', and with the port becoming ot great military and strategic importance, a glance at the map is sufficient to show what all experts regard as imperative, namely that Dakar must not fall into enemy I hands. I It is now clearer than ever that as I General de Gaulle will not fight against the French forces, the time is arriving when Britain must decide i what to do about the French EmI pire. Turning Anti-British. France and the French Empire are proving a much more serious problem than merely lost Allies. Many Frenchmen not only refuse to nurse their sorrows silently, but are rapidly becoming anti-British, and are doing everything possible to sabotage their former ally. , Frenchmen who have accepted British hospitality, have returned to France, where they save information to the Vichy Government, which was passed on to the German secret police. General de Gaulle's followers in England say that important war secrets have leaked out from England. It will be recalled that onlylast week two Frenchwomen residing in one of London's most expensive hotels, and posing as nurses, were arrested. "Some leakage has been traced to French soldiers, who were here when France collapsed, and who returned 1 to France last week aboard two hospital ships,” says the Daily Sketch. "One man carried plans of Liverpool harbour when the ship m which he was being repatriated was about to depart. "These constitute only a few indications of the depth of lhe rot in France, and of how a country which swore life-long co-operation with Britain, is now, in effect, if not in fact, virtually an enemy; also, why Britain, in her most critical hour, is considered by most people to be well rid , of her ally." , General de Gaulle's movement ap- ; pears io have a following in France . only among certain sections. Some ' peasants and .workmen are sympu ; thetic, but mostly they want to tie ’ allowed to live peacefully. They an; 1 profoundly bitter, fearing that all th--1 gains of recent years are lost. General de Gaulle's broadcasts impresUmany professional soldiers, but it I- ' I doubtful whether they can do much j lin the face of the Vichy regime. ' I Rising Bitterness. At lhe same time, this regime it self enjoys little popularity, and there is a rising bitterness against profes- » sional politicians, like Laval, the ? Vice-Premier, and the equally treac’nr erous Georges Bonnet (Foreign Min- - ister of France during the late pre- ) war crises). t There certainly appears *o be little - for which Britain can hope from France, except hostility and perfidy. Consequently, Britain cannot longer delay formulating her own policy regarding the French colonies. The future of these colonies may largely govern Spain's decisions, which are vital to the Mediterranean situation. General France, most of the Spanish generals, and the Foreigr , Minister, Colonel Beigbeder, may bi sufficiently strong to deter lhe Mint ister for the Interior, Senor Suner z and the Falangists from bringing t Spain in, but the Germans can maren r in overnight and join their 50,000 fifth - columnists already there. Britain then - will be compelled to act without de- - Jay regarding Morocco and othei French possessions.