CLEAR BREACH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 114, 16 May 1941, Page 9

CLEAR BREACH

ARMISTICE TERMS Britain Orders Action Against Planes On Syria 'Dromes British Official Wireless. Rec. 1 p.m. RI'GBY, May 15. A grave statement was made in the House of Commons by Mr. Anthony Eden when replying to a question regarding the position in Syria. He said: "Detailed information at the disposal of the British Government shows that the French authorities in Syria are allowing German aircraft to use Syrian aerodromes as starting points for flights to Iraq. "The British Government has in consequence given full authority for action to be taken against these German aircraft on Syrian aerodromes. The French Government cannot escape the responsibility for this position, and its action under German orders in permitting these flights is a clear breach of the armistice terms and is inconsistent with the undertakings given by the French Government."

Replying to a supplementary question, Mr. Eden said that proper action had been taken. A further question suggested that since the Vichy Government had left the League of Nations, the French mandate no longer existed. Mr. Eden said that there was certainly force in the suggestion and he would look into the matter.

The United States had been informed of what is taking place.

In view of Mr- Eden's revelation it is recalled that on April 7 Marshal Petain, when broadcasting an appeal for national unity, said "Honour forbids us to take any action against our former Allies, but the integrity of our country demands that the sources of our vital supplies should be preserved. It is against these needs that dissident propagandists are daily in revolt. The blood of Frenchmen has already flown in fratricidal fighting arid that is enough." Hitler Sent For Dnrlan? There is reason to believe, said an earlier cable message, that the meeting of the French Cabinet, at which Admiral Darlan's negotiations with Hitler were approved, concerned the situation in Syria, says the "Daily Telegraph'' correspondent. Hitler is reported to have sent for Admiral Darlan in order to demand assurances that if Germans were landed in Syria by air, the French garrison would be withdrawn, or would refrain from intervening.

"When Hitler sends for a foreign •statesman' to hand him an ultimatum," the report continues, "he usually acts as though its terms have been already fulfilled. Therefore, we may expect to hear at any moment that German aeroplanes carrying troops and material have actually landed in Aleppo. The possibility of landings from the sea must also be considered.

"The official report issued after the Cabinet meeting at Vichy seems to be merely a smokescreen to keep up the pretence that Admiral Darlan's visit to Paris was for the purpose of conducting economic negotiations, although these had already been concluded.

"Britain is still bound by the declaration of July, 1940," the "Telegraph" went on. "She could not allow Syria to be occupied by a hostile Power, or to be used as a base for attacks against other countries in the Middle East."

It is believed that the Implications of this declaration are now under discussion in London and Washington.