Show I French Hit Peril of U. U S. S Rule Say Washington Would Run Nation if British Had Prevailed VICHY France May 17 The A The second reference to Frances France's relations relations relations re re- re- re lations with the United States in 16 hours appeared Saturday in official French Frenc news agency dis- dis II t said this said this country if ir it had it-had had followed a different course last June might have b been n controlled controlled controlled con con- trolled by Washington The agency said there was talk of a British-American British federation under United States leadership and that if France had accepted British Prime Minister Churchill's proposals for a French British-French union last June she might today be run not from London but from Washington We would end up as the citizens of a dominion twice removed said the dispatch The campaign waged in the United States to push the nation into war and try to save England by extending the conflict throughout through through- out the world it said continues to spread A government statement nt said categorically that the question of German occupation of Dakar French West Africa was not even raised in the interview last week weekend weekend end between Adolf Hitler and Vice Premier Admiral Jean Darlan Dakar bel belongs 0 n g s to France France has already guarded it she will defend it It against any aggression aggression aggression ag ag- ag- ag s said id the statement Astonished by U. U S. S High French sources regarded with astonished concern what they described as semiofficial declarations declarations dec dec- in the United States in indicating indicating indicating that occupation of French Guiana and Martinique is under consideration Circles close to the French government government government gov gov- interpreted the attitude in the United States toward Frances France's colonies as resulting from a misunderstanding of off r f con Continued on Page Two 8 Column r Three Vichy Hits Peril Of U. U S S. S Rule Continued from Page One French collaboration with the reich Britain's moves also were watched closely after an official statement acknowledging Friday for the first time the British bombing of air fields in Syria The French declared however they would not regard the bombI bombings bomb bomb- I ings jugs as aggression Eye Ship Seizures A semiofficial statement ex expressing expressing expressing ex- ex pressing astonishment at American Ameri Amen can interpretation of the status i of French colonies inquired also about the taking over of the Normandie and other French merchant ships by armed American Amen Ameri can guards Frenchmen close to Chief of State Philippe Petain's administration administration adminis adminis- expressed surprise that President Roosevelt apparently interpreted Petain's talk of collaboration collaboration collaboration col col- as putting French colonies colonies col cal onies at the disposal of Ger Ger- many One semiofficial statement gave this as Frances France's position In May 1940 when France had been abandoned by England America didn't think it her duty to reply to her Frances France's ap ap- ap- ap peal Today roday France careful of guarding her position as a great power and the integrity of her territory as an empire has definitely definitely def I- I the right t to consider with the conqueror the conditions of common reorganization of the continent of Europe Bar British Attack That in no way signifies she has the intention of attacking England England even even less the United States The menaces of Mr Eden British foreign secretary against Syria and the bombardment of Syrian airdromes have just been added to the things which France still refuses to consider as the Saxon Anglo-Saxon will for aggression The French said they were entering entering en en- into collaboration willingly willing willIng- ly under no nazi pressure pressure and and declared that the collaboration was political and economic |