 It also offended much of the British and American public, who regarded all Vichy French as Nazi collaborators and Darlan as one of the worst.Eisenhower insisted, however, that he had no real choice if his forces were to move on against the Axis in Tunisia, rather than fight the French in Algeria and Morocco.Though de Gaulle had no official power in North Africa, much of its population now publicly declared Free French allegiance, putting pressure on Darlan.