FREE FRANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1941, Page 6

FREE FRANCE

QUESTION OF AMERICAN POLICY REPUDIATION OF PETAIN REGIME. ADVANTAGES PERCEIVED. (By Norton Webb, in the “Christian Science Monitor.”) With Vichy each day tightening its “collaboration” with the Nazis, many Americans are naturally weighing the advantages of repudiating the Petain regime and recognising the Free French government of General Charles de Gaulle. The State Department has, of course, felt it could do some good by “playing along” with Vichy, believing that to recognise de Gaulle might make it harder to help the French people who are resisting Hitlerism within France. Occasional outbursts of the Nazi-con-trolled Press against Ambassador Leahy have undoubtedly shown his presence was detrimental to Hitler’s plans. But the advantages of working

with Vichy have never been very clear and are daily becoming dimmer. Admiral Leahy’s sojourn may still have a “delayed action” value on Vichy-Nazi “collaboration.” Yet this is speculative because of the secrecy and finesse of Vichy diplomacy. Marshal Petain’s speech on full collaboration with Germany, for instance, was clear. But a few days later the Vichy representative in Washington said the speech meant nothing of the kind. Some see America’s supposedly moderating influence at Vichy as a sustaining ray of hope for the greater part of the French people who daily yearn for the restoration of their ideals of freedom and the Revolution. In doing this, however, is not the United States also supporting a dictatorial Government unrepresentative of France, that merely exists on sufferance and because backed by the tyrannical Nazi war machine? There is some danger, also, that United States recognition of , Vichy is seen as a sign by the French people that America favours such a regime and it should therefore be accepted by them. support of Petain, also, may give him just the time he wants to consolidate his hold on the country. By contrast, shifting the focus of attention at large from American influence in Vichy in most Frenchmen’s minds and the world to American support of the Free French might alter the balance of power in an important and beneficial way. The 39,000,000 prodemocracy Frenchmen could then give allegiance with glad hearts and clear consciences to a French Government in complete accord with their ideals of liberty and freedom. De Gaulle as a chief, suffers from being too little known among the French people. This can only bo overcome by comprehensive American and British action in breaking down the heavy wall of Vichy-Nazi propaganda and censorship that keeps the hapless French from learning about their Free French brothers. De Gaulle is also at a disadvantage in representing mostly military interests. One would like to see a Herriot or a Boncour at his side to represent the democratic masses of France. There are, however, some civilians in his government, one being Maurice Dejean, an able former Quai d’Orsay diplomat, now Free French Director of Political Affairs, who is gradually shaping a Free French policy. M. Dejean recently declared that de Gaulle’s means of achievement were still modest —Free French troops number only a few tens of thousands (a London source puts them at 40,000). The Free French navy includes thirty warships and eighty merchant vessels, or a quarter of France’s merchant marine. The Free French Air Force is still in its formative stage, although nearly 1500 of its airmen have flown with the R.A.F, to fight the Luftwaffe. Free French policy is based on: (1) Active participation in the war against Naziism; (2) action relating to freeing the French Empire, from the Vichy or Nazi grasp; (3) maintenance of France’s morale. What is important is that General de Gaulle still recognises the French Republic and Constitution of 1875, and is pledged to abide by the results of a French general election if he is in command at Paris when the Germans withdraw. America, it would seem, ought to benefit by supporting this programme, as its aims not only square with her own ideas of defence, but those of Britain, now so actively aiding the de Gaulle cause. The Free French movement is really today the only encouraging rallying point for liberty-loving French, and unquestionably can accomplish greater good for them, in the long run, than Vichy’s . small reactionary clique. Finally, United States backing of da Gaulle would strengthen Anglo-Ameri. can unity for world action and imple* ment the Eight Points,