Washington, Whitehall and Weygand
The case of the oil-tanker Scheherazade ' is disturbing. This French vessel, bound from the United States for Casablanca, in French Morocco, was detained by the British naval authorities, but released on the urgent request of the American State Department, which appears satisfied that General Weygand is pursuing a different policy from the Petain-Darlan administra- tion, and should therefore be given economic support. Evidence of that in this country is conspicuously lacking, and the con- viction is firmly held that of any imports, particularly oil, which get into French hands a considerable proportion will soon get into German hands. Vichy is now completely subservient to Hitler, as the resistance in Syria and the sever- ance of diplomatic relations with Russia plainly indicate, and there is no ground for doubting that General Weygand is com- pletely subservient—or perhaps it would be fairer to say loyal— to Vichy. The American Government has a diplomatic repre- sentative in Northern Africa, and may perhaps claim to be well informed about General Weygand's attitude. It is argued, moreover, that the fact that cargoes from America are distri- buted under American supervision is sufficient safeguard. In a case where there is conflict of policy between the two Govern- ments it is probably a lesser evil to let one tanker, or even a service of three ships each way, through than to reject an American appeal, but it is to be hoped that further consultations either at Washington or in London will result in agreed conclusions between the two Governments about the position in Morocco.
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