The Waikato Times THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1940 TRAGEDY OF FRENCH EMPIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21156, 4 July 1940, Page 6

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, JULY 4, 1940 TRAGEDY OF FRENCH EMPIRE

Much that will probably not be explained until after the smoke of war has cleared is happening in connection with the French surrender to the Germans. Why, for instance, should General Weygand be touring the French overseas possessions, ordering or persuading them to demobilise their armed forces and accept German domination ? The cessation of fighting by France itself is understandable, but that French leaders who a short time ago were regarded as the staunchest allies of Britain should now be doing their utmost to damp down the opposition to German expansion is beyond comprehension. Syria has agreed to lay down its arms, although many officers are said to have rebelled against the order, and now it is reported that French Morocco has obeyed Weygand’s command. Alter almost three weeks the fate of the French fleet is still a mystery to most of the world. It is a reasonable assumption, however, that had the ships fallen into German or Italian hands either of those two enemy Powers would have proclaimed the fact to the world. The fleet fortunately is isolated from the more intimate subversive influences which have affected the leaders of the French land forces, and its close association with the British Navy in the shared task of keeping the seaways open, tightening the blockade and hunting enemy ships has no doubt had a healthy effect on French naval men. It is notable that Vice-Admiral Muselier, whose record since the war began has been exemplary, has been appointed by General de Gaulle commander of the “free” French naval and air forces. The position in Syria, in spite of General Mittelhauser’s acceptance of Weygand’s orders to surrender, is still far from settled. High officers of the French forces there have refused to obey the order and General Mittelhauser’s chief of staff has been arrested. Many officers and men are reported to be making their way into Palestine, and fighting is believed to have occurred because General Mittelhauser ordered his frontier troops to stop them. In North Africa the situation is no less confusing. Trouble may be expected when the German and Italian armistice commissions arrive and attempt to disband the French Foreign Legion.

Throughout the French Empire the extraordinary surrender of the French leaders has led to a tragic situation for all Frenchmen. They are torn between a desire to fight for France and her Allies and the natural inclination to obey instructions from the French Government. The result is dire confusion. That is what the Bordeaux Government has to answer for. It has placed the French Empire in a situation more tragic than any it has experienced before. Frenchmen are being turned against each other and nobody knows who is friend or foe. That is as Germany would have had it. Again the German Fifth Column has done its deadly work. But the French Empire is not yet dead. The faithful elements among the French race will still rally to the flag of France and fight side by side with Britons, upon whom they rely for deliverance from the Nazi reign of terror