FRANCE TO SEEK PEACE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23353, 12 June 1941, Page 5

FRANCE TO SEEK PEACE

Admiral Darlan’s Announcement “MUST CO-OPERATE WITH GERMANY” (Received June 11, 9 p.m.) (UP A.) LONDON. June 10. Admiral Darlan. the Vichy VicePremier, in a broadcast, announced that the French Government was .preparing to seek a separate peace. j.( hoped to create favourable conditions without waiting till the end of the war. Admiral Darlan appealed to the French people to stop criticising the Vichy Government.' The armistice, he pointed out, was not a peace. It could be denounced at any time and it would be disastrous to force the Germans to do this. France must co-operate wiln Germany because she needed Germany’s co-operation. Admiral Darlan said: “Without waiting for the end of hostilities, we must create a favourable atmosphere for an honourable peace. I appeal to the nation for unreserved support m collaborating with Germany in building a new Europe and so preventing France from perishing. “Germany has agreed to negotiate because she is planning a reconstruction of Europe which cannot be achieved without France and the other European States. This situation is unprecedented. We are forced to negotiate with a country warring against our former ally and occupying our soil. “Frenchmen must follow Marshal Petain and be assured that the fate of France is linked up with the fate of Europe. This is still a time for discipline and for union, not for sterile disputes and petty recriminations against the Government. “If the nation does not understand, it will surely succumb. The people are too prone to regard as unquestionable truths what a clandestine and dissident radio helped by a foreign Power daily repeats. “The signature of a definite peace remains difficult while the great problems arising from the present conflict remain unsolved, but we must negotiate with Germany if we wish to modify the armistice. Marshal Petain has cliargcd me with these negotiations and approves the developments.”

COLLABORATION WITH NAZIS Extent of Darlan’s Policy SUGGESTED TRANSFER OF AIRCRAFT (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 10. A document which throws interesting light on Admiral Darlan’s claim that his policy of “collaboration” is confined to the political and economic sphere has recently come into the hands of the Free French forces, and is published by the Free French newspaper “France.” It Is a communication sent on March 26 to the French delegation on the Armistice Commission at Wiesbaden by the aviation section of the German commission. The following are extracts from the text: “Some time ago the French Government acquired from the United States Government a large number of Douglas DB 7 fighter aeroplanes equipped with bicycle under-carriage. The Officer Commanding the German Air Forces is very anxious to obtain machines of this type. “Up to now the French Government has rejected any suggestion that French aeroplanes be handed over, pointing out that the United States Government is aware of the proposals, and that to accede to them would lead to political complications. "The German Armistice Commission would again emphasise its desire for some agreement by which aeroplanes of the particular model in question might be handed over, and it is prepared to offer in return certain maintenance. As regards the I French Government’s fear of possible complications from the United States Government hearing of the German Government's proposals for taking delivery of these Douglas DB 7 machines, the German Armistice Commission is prepared, In .order to avoid political difficulties for the French authorities, to make it known that this exchange is made under German pressure. The German Commission expects a reply at the earliest possible moment to this request.”

U.S. AID TO BRITAIN

MATERIALS SUPPLIED UNDER ACT (Received June 12, 1.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 11. The United Press of America learns that approximately 75,000.000 dollars’ worth of materials have been delivered to Britain and Canada under the Lease-Lend Act in the two months since the bill was passed. Defence officials said aid to Britain at present was on a scale 10 times above that of last year. Exports of aircraft in the first five momns of 1941 were 12 times greater m dollar value than those for the same period of 1940. Exports of aircraft engines were 10 times greater, and of iron ana steel products and machine tools, three times greater. . In the first four months, exports of explosives were 17 times greater and exports of firearms and ammunition were greater by 00 times. DOMINIONS AND THE WAR PROPOSAL MADE TO MR CHURCHILL LONDON, June 10. “Such a course would be a complete departure in principle from the traditions followed for many generations, said the Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) in the House of Commons, when he was asked whether, in order to facilitate closer and more direct co-opera-tion in the Empire war effort, he would amend the Statute of Westminster to entitle the Dominion Prime Ministers to attend the sittings of the House of Commons during their visits for consultation With the War Cabinet. Mr E. L. Granville (Liberal Nationalist): Hasn’t the Prime Minister noticed the recent precedent in Ottawa when the Australian Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) addressed the Canadian House of Commons? Other members declared that the British people would shortly insist on having an Empire War Cabinet. The Dominions themselves might also have something to say on the subject. Spend a shilling and make pounds by advertising your goods in "The Press” Classified Columns. Office open till 10 p.m. ~ 2