REPORTED NAZI PLAN FOR AID FROM VICHY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 109, 10 May 1941, Page 9

REPORTED NAZI PLAN FOR AID FROM VICHY

MAINLY INDUSTRIAL

Inland Bases For U-Boats; Rcarmour Tanks luit«l rro*. As^Ulion.-rorrricht. lice. 10 a.m. LONDON. May fi According to information receiver] by the independent French agencv. "Nazi concessions" to Vichv are mainly industrial and include assistance in rcarmouring German tanks, also in connection with submarine repairs. neffardinc the firs; it is stated mat the Balkan campaign proved that the armour of German tanks fiocs not sufficient resistance to Britain s new antitank weapons. In view of the damage inflicted on rue submarine repair shops in German and occupied French and Dutch ports by the R.A.F.. Raeder the Nazi Army Chief, wishes to transfer shops to the interior—a plan in which French industrv is expected to play an important part. Omission of mention of concessions by the Vichy Government is commented upon in London, where it is thought unlikely that the Germans would give anything without something substantial in return, savs a British Official Wireless message Furtherance of the German plans, which probably include the passage of troops through France to Spain for operations against Gibraltar, increased influence in North Africa and greater control of French shipping, is thought likely to be the consequence of such an agreement. There is speculation in the Press as to whether concessions on these lines will be made known later, or are even now a closely-guarded secret which it is not wise" to reveal to the limelight of world opinion at present-