U.S. warns Vichy against yielding more of empire (8-3-41)

The Pittsburgh Press (August 3, 1941)

U.S. WARNS VICHY AGAINST YIELDING MORE OF EMPIRE
By John A. Reichmann, United Press staff writer

Washington, Aug. 2 –
The United States tonight placed its relations with the Vichy government of France on a day-to-day basis after serving stern notice to France that its policy of Axis collaboration is a threat to America in both the Far East and in Africa.

Vichy reports stated that Marshal Pétain, Admiral Darlan and General Weygand were standing in a solid bloc to oppose the demands of Germany that the relations between the two countries be put on the basis of conqueror and conquered.

The U.S. warning was made in a public statement Acting Secretary of State Sumner Welles read to newspapermen. It followed within a few hours President Roosevelt’s new economic blow against the Japanese war machine by making airtight the embargo on aviation fuel and oil and imposing strict rationing on other oil.

Although Mr. Welles’ statement was concerned chiefly with reproving the Vichy government for having permitted Japan to occupy strategic naval and air bases on French Indochina, it broadened the scope of immediate United States interest to Africa.

The apparent inspiration of Mr. Welles’ remarks was reports received here during the day of a new crisis in the Vichy government. Germany was reported to be pressing Marshal Henri Pétain’s regime for concessions in Africa, particularly Dakar, in Senegal, along the African west coast to South America.

With this as a background for what appeared to be a rapidly approaching a crisis, there was intense diplomatic activity at the State Department. Mr. Welles held prolonged Saturday conference with Lord Halifax, the British Ambassador, with Richard G. Casey, the Australian Minister, and with Ralph Close, the Minister for the Union of South Africa.

Earlier he talked with Constantine A. Oumansky, the Ambassador from the USSR. Russia is especially interested in Pacific shipping routes for American war supplies. Japan is located astride those routes.

Also interested in shipping was another Welles’ caller – he was Admiral Kichisaburō Nomura, the Ambassador from Japan. He saw Welles for 10 minutes and it was understood the subject discussed was Japan’s ships whose cargoes and movements in American ports are subject to rigid controls.

Chief subject of the discussions with the British Empire representatives was the Japanese threat, especially her demands for bases from Thailand, which would bring the Axis partner closer to Singapore and would flank the vital Burma Road to China.

Mr. Welles’ statement was critical of Vichy’s concessions to Japan in Indochina.

Mr. Welles said:

In effect, this agreement virtually turns over to Japan an important part of the French Empire.

Effort has been made to justify this agreement on the ground that Japanese ‘assistance’ is needed. The Government of the United States is unable to accept this explanation…

Mr. Welles recalled that Vichy had declared its determination to protect the sovereignty of iot territories, but had permitted German and Italian troops to use Syrian facilities against the British. He recalled that France resisted only when the British undertook to defend themselves against these Axis offenses.

Mr. Welles reiterated traditional American friendship with the French people, but concluded:

In its relations with the French government at Vichy and with the local French authorities in French territories, the United States will be governed by the manifest effectiveness with which those authorities from domination and control by those powers which are seeking to extend their rule by force and conquest or by threat thereof.

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