France accuses UK military of war crimes.

[GreenKnight121]

Originally Posted by ”Warmtoast”

France-UK rivalry goes back centuries. But perhaps things are changing, witness President Sarkozy's comments during his visit earlier this year when he acknowledged that the UK had twice come to the aid of France, and the French would not forget that.

In the early 1930s, American humorist Will Rogers had a line he used frequently at public performances:
“The only way the French would hate us more than they do now, is if we help them out of another war”.

He was more prophet than jokester on this one.

To say ”the UK had twice come to the aid of France, and the French would not forget that” may not be a favorable thing.

Originally Posted by ”Wensleydale”

So why did the RN sink the French ships in Oran, but accepted the neutrality of the French ships in Alexandria? Answer - the intransigence of the French Commander at Oran who followed the Vichy line.

Well, Oran was in Vichy (German-influenced France) control, while Alexandria was a British-controlled port, with RN ships as well. Thus, the French ships in Alexandria were following option B pretty closely (except for the crews being allowed to stay aboard their ships).
(b) Sail with reduced crews under our control to a British port. The reduced crews would be repatriated at the earliest moment.