Vichy and Hitler
The apparently well-founded report of the enforced retirement of General Weygand from his command in North Africa, follow- ing on the death in an aeroplane crash of General Huntziger, the War Minister and the only effective opponent of Admiral Darlan in the French Cabinet, means that the pace of Vichy's capitula- tion to Hitler is increasing. In such circumstances we can attach what importance we choose to Vichy's renewed denial of the intention of delivering the French fleet to Germany, or allowing her right of passage through the unoccupied zone in return for the release of war prisoners. Recalling the action of the Vichy Government in refusing at the film of the Franco-German armistice to hand over British vessels which happened to be in French ports, Mr. Dalton said last Tuesday that there is recent evidence showing that some of these ships have passed under direct enemy control. Yet Vichy continues to make its petulant complaints about our blockade. Our procedure, was explained by Mr. Dalton. In view of the impossibility of distinguishing between Occupied and Unoccupied France, all cargoes on their way to or from the country are liable to be treated as prizes, and in addition French vessels in ballast may be intercepted and retained as a reprisal for the holding of our own ships. Mr. Dalton said rightly that nothing has occurred to induce us to modify that policy. Vichy is more and more becoming a tool of Germany, acting in hostility to us, and nothing whatever is to be gained by seeking a goodwill so conspicuously absent. It is increasingly difficult to believe that any good can come out of Vichy.
