If the report current amongst well-informed diplomatic circles in Washington is true,—that M. Pierre Laval lost his post in the Petain Cabinet last December, because he had completed negotiations with the Germans for them to use the French fleet, and occupy the naval base at Bizerta,—it is possible that striking developments may occur soon in France. Though it was said, at the time, that the dismissal of M. Laval from the Vichy Cabinet was for purely domestic reasons, it was all along clear that the reason for such a drastic action by Marshal Petain must have indeed been a weighty one, and the prejudicing of Marshal Petain's honour by arriving at any such arrangement with the Germans would surely be heavy enough. It is now reported that following the enforced reconciliation between Marshal Petain and M, Laval Germany insists that the latter shall again hold office. Whether that will be as Foreign Minister, or whether he will handle another portfolio remains to be seen, but the re entrance of Laval into the Vichy Cabinet will amount to a German success.
Hitler it is reported. has informed Vichy that "a complete and radical solution of the Franco-German problem must be found and put into effect before the end of February." Thus, if Germany is to obtain all that she is reported to demand, she will come into the Mediterranean. with what remains of the French fleet under the control of Vichy, based on Bizerta which commands the n: rowest portion of that sea between Tunisia and Sicily. With the Italian navy seeking to control the Straits of Messina, which it should be able to do if it is still not too coy, ihe scheme would appear to be one aimed at separating the British forces at the eastern and western ends of the Mediterranean and preventing their union when that becomes necessary. The Germans would also then be in a position to threaten the convoys passing to'and fro, obliging the British forces in north Africa, and Palestine to depend for their supplies on the lengthy sea route via the Cape of Good Hope.
Such a German attempt would undoubtedly be met by the British Fleet which is at all times only too anxious to engage the enemy, and it is not to be thought for one instant that Britain would allow any such Tave without taking very active countermeasures. It is understood, however, that Vichy is still endeavouring to play for time, and seeking to avoid a plain answer to the German demands, accepting or rejecting them, for it is quite plain that there can be no honour in acceding to Hitler's demands. The world was not impressed when Hitler gave his undertaking that the French Navy would not be used in this struggle. It simply did not believe him any more then than it does now, and the British Government has all along faced the possibility that Vichy might be forced to surrender the French Navy, or-see the Armistice denounced and the whole of France overrun by the Huns, What would follow then is a matter of considerable speculation. Should Hitler go too far the possibility of the French continuing their resistance from the French colonial Empire is not lightly to be disregarded. That would mean that the French fleet would immediately make for Tunisian and other French ports, and with the re entrance of the French colonial troops into the struggle the Position of the Italians in northern Africa would become even more precarious than it is now. It will be appreciated that Marshal Petain is not without pawns in the tragic game he is being obliged to play with Hitler. Should the latter go too far and Marshal Petain decide to resist there will be a valuable accession of fighting strength on the side of Great Britain and her Allies, and a very considerable contribution to the naval forces which would then be better able to counter the enemy's submarine menace. Hitler is playing for high stakes, but there is a distinct possibility that he will overreach himself, If he does, and Colonial France recuters the war it will amount to one of the biggest mistakes he has made—and up to the present he has made plenty.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.