PLAIN ISSUES AT DAKAR.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1940, Page 4

PLAIN ISSUES AT DAKAR.

the stage to which events are carried by reports available at time of writing, the position in the French West African port of Dakar is rather disappointing. In his initial attempt to get into contact with supporters of the cause of Free France, General de Gaulle has been rebuffed. Even his emissaries approaching Dakar under the white flag were fired upon and later fire was opened on the force under his command when it attempted to land. The rest of the story meantime is that General de Gaulle withdrew his force, hoping still that a battle between Frenchmen may be averted, but that the operations are continuing. The Free French headquarters in London have announced confidently that “the action will end in French West'Africa rallying to the cause of Free France.” The hope thus expressed,does not seem extravagant in view of the stand already taken by French colonies, in Africa and elsewhere, which are not under enemy pressure and are able to ignore the injunctions of the. deplorable Vichy Government. Unfortunately, however, it counts obviously for a good deal that enemy agents have established themselves meantime in a position of authority at Dakar and that the French local administration is prepared to carry out the Vichy policy of abject subservience to the Axis. Not all the details of what has happened at Dakar, and as an outcome of the action taken there, are yet reported in clear terms. It is announced, however, that French planes, presumably from Morocco, have raided Gibraltar, where four persons were killed and twelve wounded. The raid is described by Vichy as a reprisal for the British action at Dakar, but it is manifest that it amounts actually to placing French forces at the disposal of the Axis Powers. Not even the members of the Petain Government, it may be supposed, would have the hardihood to suggest that Britain has any other aim or desire than to re-establish France and the French Empire in independence and integrity. It is at the same time plain to all the world that the Axis partners are determined, if they can to enslave France and her colonies. Yet the Vichy Government treats Britain as an enemy and seeks to make subservient to the Axis even those French colonies which are well able, with Britain’s aid, to maintain their security and independence. In these facts, the issues really raised at Dakar are defined sharply and unmistakably. The policy of the Vichy Government is a policy of treason to France. This infamous policy is bound to be resisted by all truly loyal Frenchmen, and it may be hoped that in West Africa the forces of freedom will yet prevail, as they have in a number of other French territories. It is plainly desirable that the loyal people of the colony should be given every opportunity to assert themselves. Should they fail to do so, however, with the help General de Gaulle is able to afford them, it will certainly be incumbent on Britain to see to it that French West Africa is not handed over to the Axis. There can be no question of allowing Dakar to become a base for enemy submarines and aircraft, though there is every reason to fear that it would become precisely that if the Vichy Government ■were allowed to have its way. Dakar is commandingly placed with reference to the Cape route and, as a commentator has pointed out, an enemy holding the port would be most advantageously placed to sever Atlantic shipping communications. The position will best be resolved, in the interests of France as well as in those of Britain am! the whole Allied cause, if French West Africa rallies to the cause of Free France. The, alternative is that Britain shall deal drastically with enemy machinations, cloaked in weakness and with falsehood by the Vichy Government.