Show France Abandons Democracy THE THE WORLD does move fast these days l A few short weeks ago France was one of the great democracies of the world fighting bravely shoulder to shoulder with the British empire against the tyrannical antidemocratic scourge of totalitarianism Today the French nation is at the point of open hostility to Britain British naval guns have blasted French warships out of the sea French planes have bombed Gibraltar what is left of the French navy has been ordered by the home government to fight its way through the British naval cordon to home ports and the French nation is In the process of abandoning Its traditional democratic political system and establishing a fascist government Its It's a little difficult to believe that it isn't all some terrible nightmare that nightmare that such a startling startling startling star star- reversal of what we have come to accept as traditional patterns of international alliances al ala lances and political systems cannot be true A few months ago it was inconceivable that France would collapse like a rotting stetting termite termite- weakened house before the fury of the nazi storm A few weeks ago it was inconceivable that even should France as a nation be overcome overcome overcome over over- come France as an empire would surrender or France France- as a democracy and stalwart ally and champion of democratic political systems would abruptly abandon everything that France for fora a century and a half has stood for in the world And yet It has happened It is a sad picture picture picture-a a disturbing picture farus for far forus forus us in America The present government of France mother mother- of aY republicanism in Europe fountainhead of democracy as a political theory oId time old time friend of democratic America long ally of democratic Britain has in effect turned traitor That is a harsh word and it is with the deepest sorrow and regret that we apply it to the present French government But it is impossible impossible im possible to reach any other conclusion The French government surrendered as an empire and abandoned its ally while the war still raged in the world They broke their pledges not to turn over the French fleet t to the enemies of democracy and did everything in m their power to influence the officers and men of the fleet to carry out the fleet surrender order The French government has now gone fascist establishing establishing es a permanent corporative state- state just another word for a fascist dictatorship on the Italian model Certainly under the circumstances no one can blame Britain for for taking direct action to prevent the French fleet from being transferred trans trans- into the control of Germany and ItaI Italy j jIt It was the only possible course for Britain Britain- Any Any other action would have been a mark of weak weak- ness After all it was not Britain who turned on France France fir first t deserted Britain lock stock and barrel and went over into the enemy camp One thing this French face about means to America that America that France can no longer be regarded regarded re reo by America as a friendly power That is a conclusion which has tremendous tremendous tremendous tre tre- future possibilities It means that French possessions in this hemisphere are all potential spearheads of totalitarian penetration penetration tion even potential bases for the coming totalitarian totalitarian tartan assault on this hemisphere It is a ticklish situation for America just America just justas as ticklish as the surrender of the French fleet to to totalitarianism was for Britain Britain acted boldly in dealing with the threat to her security America must be prepared to be equally bold in dealing with this potential threat to her hemisphere security |