PLAN FOR UNION OF BRITAIN AND FRANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1940, Page 8

PLAN FOR UNION OF BRITAIN AND FRANCE

SINGLE COUNTRY. Lapses Owing To French Move For Peace.

DEVELOPMENTS AWAITED. British Official Wireless. (Received 2 p.m.) RUGBY, June 17. It was announced to-night that the British Government wished it to be known that with the object of assisting Franee and supporting her to the utmost in the hours of stress through which she is passing and also in the hope of encouraging the French Government to continue its resistance, the British Government had offered to conclude a solemn act of union between the two countries. The following draft declaration was accordingly communicated to the French Government by the British Ambassador yesterday!— "At' this most fateful moment in the history -of the - modern world, the Government of the United Kingdom and the French Republic make this declaration of indissoluble union and unyielding resolution in the common defence of j notice and freedom again*t subjection to a system which rcduces mankind to a life of robots and slaves. The two Governments declare that France and Britain ahall no longer be two nations, but one, the Franco-British Union. "The constitution of the Union will provide for the joint organs of defence, foreign, financial and economic policies. Every citizen of France will enjoy immediately the citizenship of Britain, and nvery British subject will become a citizen of France. Both countries wiil share the responsibility for the repair of the devastation of war, wherever it occurs in their territories.. "The resources of both shall be equally and m one applied for that purpose." "During the war there shall be a single War Cabinet and all the Forces of Britain and France, whether on land, sea or In the air, will be placed under its direction. It. will govern from wherever it best can. The two.Parliaments will be formally associated. "The nations of the British Empire are already forming new armies. France will keep available forces in the "field, on the sea and in the air. The Union appeaJs to us to fortify the economic resources of the Allies and bring her powerful material aid to the common cause. "The Union will concentrate its whole energy against the power of the enemy, no matter where the battle maiy be and thus we shall conquer." ) Official circles in London pointed out to-night that the draft declaration of the Union was based on the assumption that Britain and France would continue the war against Germany as Allies. As tlii French Government was at present attempting to treat with the German Government it might be assumed that the British offer contained in the declaration had lapsed. It was, of course, possible if, at any future time, circumstances were altered that the offer might be. reconsidered.