The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1940 FRANCE’S TRAVAIL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21227, 25 September 1940, Page 6

The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1940 FRANCE’S TRAVAIL

Of all the victims of Nazi Germany, none is being so torn by doubt and travail as France. In most cases the conquered countries have succumbed quickly and terribly, but because France made the cardinal blunder oi accepting Germany's armistice terms, she is suffering slow torture, mixed, with hope as far as the overseas empire is concerned. However wealk in policy it might have been, it is difficult to imagine that any nartion could have deserved such a fate, .fortunately for the Allied cac.se, it is still possible to save something 1 rom the wreckage. Much has indeed already been saved, and fi jrther developments will not long be delayed. Most of the uncerls inly and the tragedy in the French colonies could have been averted ha d the Vichy Government not foolishly given itself away to the Ni izis. ( General de Gaulle’s dramatic dash to Dakar with Free French ar» d British naval forces has caused a thrill of excitement. Six French warships were allowed to leave the Mediterranean and reach Dakar, in .French West Africa, in mysterious circumstances. De Gaulle follow ed quickly and endeavoured to rally French West Africans to the cause of Free France. The authority of the Vichy Government had not been quite extinguished, however, and de Gaulle has met some opposition from French officials and forces at Dakar. De Gaulle is back ed by British torces, and with the help of independent Frenchmen. in the colonial! territory there is little doubt that he will carry the day and recruit the West African forces to the support of Free Frarnce.

Of another kin d is the development in French Indo-Chfina*, where Japan is concerned as an additional party. If the Japan.sse versio/i is correct, the position of Indo-China is not immediately a?; seri.ous as it recently seemed to be. The French Indo-China authctP-ties have apparently signeri an agreement providing for the entrjr of 6000 Japanese troops as garrisons, and for the use of three .-airports in Tongking and of the Gialam railway. The French Gover aor-General says the agreement conforms with a “ realist policy ” and t he Japanese declare they have no territorial ambitions. If they ab ide by their stated policy of preserving the integrity of Indo-Chin; a and the sovereignty of 'France the situation might be eased, at 1< ;ast temporarily.

If the Japanese explanation is accepted it must be r rssumed that the intention is to use Indo-China only as another base fi »r operations against China. When those operations are completed,, will Japan withdraw completely from Indo-China and leave Frencl x sovereignty undisturbed ? I’hat is a question for the future to decide. Circumstances might ari.ie which will alter Japan’s policy. In the meantime the most disturbing feature is that Indo-China has permitted tike Japanese to gain a foothold in the territory, a p rocess that is mutch more simple than ejecting them when the purposes of the agreement have bean served. Japan may, of course, imagine that when the time comes' for a final decision French sovereignty will have ceased to have any meaning. In that case possession, might be a full nine points of the law, t