Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1941. COUNTERING BLACK TREACHERY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, JUNE 9, 1941. COUNTERING BLACK TREACHERY.

JJIiITAIN has no need to apologise to Prance, or anyone

else, for having taken the decisive step, in association with Free French forces, of underlaking an invasion of Syria and Lebanon, it has been made manifest of late, in spite of all disclaimers, that the men of Viehy and their agents in the Middle East have become Hie nnsernpnlous accomplices and servants of Hitler ami his gang, and have done everything in their power to hand over Syria Io the Nazis as a base for attack on Palestine, the Suez Canal and other objectives.

Assertions by General Deniz that no German troops had entered Syria and the very recent statement of an official spokesman in Syria that France would fight alone in the defence of that territory must quite plainly be classed as unblushing lies. It must be added that in the extent to which Marshal Petain is responsible for his actions am! for the policy of the Government of which he is the ostensible head, he has eaten his own declaration that honour forbids France to lake any action against her former ally.

From every standpoint of honesty, loyally and fail’ dealing, the step now taken by Britain and Free France is right. It remains only to be seen whether the sinister Nazi-Vichy partnership has been forestalled effectively. It is obviously enough in the interests of France and of the Arab and other races of Syria, as well as of Britain and her allies, that the Nazis should be excluded from this vital territory and that any hold they have obtained upon it should be smashed. Something must depend upon whether the French forces in Syria hitherto recognising the authority of Vichy now revolt against it. Important issues turn also upon' the attitude of the Syrian people, to whom General Catronx, on behalf of Free France, and with the endorsement of the British Government, guarantees independence. It may be taken for granted, in any case, that a bold, and purposeful effort is being made to transform Syria from a hotbed of treacherv. into a st rongliold of democracy.

Only a lack of available forces could have accounted for Britain allowing’ the Nazi-Vichy conspiracy in Syria to proceed unhindered. Had, the invasion not been undertaken it is obvious that the security of Palestine and Iraq would have been immediately imperilled and the prospect opened at best of the, Suez Canal having to be defended at dangerously short range.

Much more than local issues of course are involved. Apart from its vital bearing upon the immediate course of the conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean, the British and Free French movement into Syria and Lebanon may have important repercussions in the French North African colonies of Morocco and Tunisia and on the fate and disposal of the French fleet. The general position indicated is that the men of Vichy, with Laval now returning openly to their fold, are prepared to go to any lengths in assisting the Nazis in their attempt to defeat Britain and. her allies. There are points of uncertainty, however. It has yet to be seen, for example, whether French seamen will consent, at the bidding of Admiral Darlan and others, to fight against their former ally.

The attitude of General Weygand, who exercises a powerful personal influence in North Africa, is also in question. At lime of writing no dependable indication has been given of the course General Weygand intends to pursue. There are reports, interesting but unconfirmed, that he refused to take over the command in Syria, in order to hold that territory at the disposal of the Nazis, and that he also refused to assume the direction of a campaign against the French equatorial territories which have joined the Free French movement. What General Weygand, once the trusted right-hand man of the late Marshal Foch, really means to do remains to be disclosed.

With regard to the outlook in the Eastern Mediterranean it is encouraging that Turkey appears at least to be boldly defending her neutrality. Reports declare that she has interned the crews of two German aircraft which made forced landings in her territory and that another Nazi aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft guns near the entrance to the Dardanelles. These things promise well as a positive expression of opinion and intention.

Should Hie worst conic to Hie worst in regard to the Mediterranean situation at large—should Hitler’s accomplices at Vichy, that is to say, endeavour to place French colonial, naval and other resources at (he disposal of the Nazis—Britain, “in dealing with the situation that will then, arise may fairly look to the United States for a measure of assistance. It will be remembered that in his recent broadcast in which he declared that the United States would resist the seizure by the Axis of bases for attack' on the Americas, President Roosevelt explicitly mentioned Dakar, in French West Africa, as one of the bases in question.