GOING WRONG

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 17, 31 October 1940, Page 5

GOING WRONG

GERMANY’S EUROPEAN PLAN.

FRANCE STANDING FIRM.

HITLER’S IDEAS UPSET.

(United Press Associatioh—Copyright) (Received This Day. 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 30.

Hitler, in a message to Mussolini, said: “On returning to Germany I wish to express my cordial thanks for the hospitality and welcome accorded me at Florence. The Florentines’ boundless enthusiasm proves the ltalian-Ger-man alliance and the complete identity of views which we confirmed afresh at these meetings is implanted in the hearts of your people. Thanks to the power of our armies and the faith of our peoples, nobody can any longer rob us of victory.” A Turin message says that the news- > paper “Stampa” says that the/ funda- * mental promise regarding future relations between France and Italy lay in obtaining proof that the Vichy Government was resolved to enter into the new European situation. The French newspaper “Figaro” says that the principle of French and German collaboration laid down at the historic meetings between Petajn, Hitler, Laval and Ribbentrop opens favourable prospects- for France. It is authoritatively stated in London that there are indications that the . power of the British Navy is encouraging certain elements in France, and especially in the French colonies, to resist the German terms for collaboration. •

It is reported that the Germans have expressed displeasure at the reserved nature of the Vichy Government’s announcements- on the Frencli-German consultations.

A Nlew York message says: “.Something lias gone wrong with Berlin’s plans for France,” states thd correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor” in a, dispatch from Europe. He adds: “If can be stated on high French authority that France is standing firm against the German proposals for collaboration for European peace. It is stated authoritatively that all rumours concerning peace or peace preliminaries, the cession of, colonies, the surrender of strategic military bases, per mission for the passage of Axis troops across unoccupied France, the collaboration of the French fleet against Britain, or voluntary surrender of any part of France, are untrue.”