Vichy Treachery
The time has long gone by when we can look to Vichy France for any lingering remnant of the loyalty it might be expected to owe to a recent ally. Any further attempts to appease a Government which has sold itself body and soul to the Germans would be waste of time. Vichy is governed by fear and not in the least degree by honour. Reports received in Washington show that the Germans are in no way resisted when they intrude even into the domestic affairs of Unoccupied France, and it is said that no objections have been made to their request for permission to move troops across France into Spain. Similarly it is undoubtedly the habit of cringing to Germany which has dictated Vichy's attitude to Japan. It is reported that the Japanese, so far from having to extort the surrender of sea and air bases m Indo-China, were met with promises of active co-operation. It appears to have been Admiral Darlan who furnished the Japanese with a useful pretext for aggression by saying that the British intended to occupy Indo-China, and that the French preferred the Japanese. In other words, Vichy France took an active part on behalf of Germany in positively inciting Japan to commit an act of aggression on French territory. In the Germans we at least recognise an open enemy acting in their own interests. In the Vichy Government we see the depths of ignominy displayed treacherously in the interests of its master.
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