OCCUPATION OF MADAGASCAR

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23753, 26 September 1942, Page 5

OCCUPATION OF MADAGASCAR

FOREIGN OFFICE STATEMENT

MILITARY JURISDICTION ESTABLISHED (N.Z. Press Association. —Copyright.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 25. An official declaration from the Foreign Office states that the - recent operations have led to the occupation of the greater part of Madagascar, including Antananarivo, the capital. The Foreign Office reiterates its former statement that French sovereignty in Madagascar has not been affected, and that the French flag will continue to be flown. - , The main points of a proclamation by the British commander (General Sir William Piatt)- are:—(l) Military jurisdiction has been established. (2) The general officer commanding assumes responsibility for law and order and will respect local customs. (3) Officials of local bodies must remain at their posts subject to the general officer commanding’s instructions. (4) Military courts will deal with specified crimes. (5) The local civil jurisdiction will continue, but it has been temporarily suspended, (o) The general officer commanding appeals to everyone to maintain normal life without fear. (7) French flags will fly everywhere where they are normally flown, and officers appeal to the public to obey all orders from British and French officials. The South African Prime Minister (General Smuts), in a message to General Platt, expressed South Africa’s pride in what he described as a notable exploit.

MONARCHY IN SPAIN

RESTORATION BEING DISCUSSED NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCO BERNE, Sept. 24. The Madrid correspondent of the ‘‘Berner Tagblatt” states that General Franco and the Spanish Royal Family have completed the “principal negotiations” for the return of Don Juan as King of Spain, but the date of the restoration is still uncertain. Don Juan, who is the late King Alfonso’s third son. is at present living at Lausanne.. The restoration of the monarchy in Spain was only a matter of weeks, reported the Stockholm correspondent of the “Sunday Express” on July 12 He added that General Franco had taken all measures for the return to Madrid of Don Juan. The whole plan was discussed by Senor Suner, then Spanish Foreign Minister, on his visits to Pans and Rome. He met Don Juan at Lausanne. By the terms of the settlement, to which Don Juan was reported to have agreed, General Franco would receive the titles of Prince and Grand Constshl 6. The Pope was stated to have approved the settlement, but Mussolini showed some opposition until Senor Suner pointed out that the restoration was the only way to avoid the reopening of civil war in Spain. ' . It is learned in London that there is no truth in the statement that negotiations have been completed for the return of Don Juan to Spam. The statement was originally attributed to the Madrid correspondent of a aerne newspaper, but the fact that the newspaper had no correspondent in Madrid suggests that the report is of German origin.

Prince Juan is the third son of the late former Kin# Alfonso, who left Spain immediately the # Republican Government was elected in 1931. and later was outlawed. He died in Rome in 1941. Should the monarchy be restored Prince Juan will be the rightful heir, having been made heir presumptive in 1927, when his two elder brothers renounced their rights to accession. Both these brothers, the Prince of Asturias and Prince Jamie, suffered from haemophilia, and for health reasons were deemed to be unfit for kingship by their father and the Dictator, Genera! Primo de Rivera. .This decision was ratified by the National Assembly. The younger son, Prince Gonzalo. also suffered from haemophilia. He died in 1934 from haemorrhage following slight injuries. Prince Juan has no physical weakness. . In 1936 it was reported that Prince Juan, accompanied by Prince Joseph of Bavaria, entered Spain in disguise to fight as privates in the rebel arraybut nothing more was heard of this activity. Last year a movement was started among Spaniards throughout the Americas for the restoration of a constitutional monarchy in Spam. The Marques of Aguiar stated that the aim was to end the Falange control of the country. The immediate objective was to show the people of the United Stotes and Latin America the desire for tbe establishment of democracy and a monarchy on the lines of the British Royal House. Prince Juan was born in 1913. n.s mother was Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. He married Princess Marie Mercedes of Bourbon-Sicily m 1935. They have a family of three, one son and two daughters. . . In the year of his marriage Prince Juan served in H.M.S. Barham with the honorary rank of sub-lieutenant. The Franco Government voted the restitution of former King Alfonso and his hffirs of the land and property of which they had been deprived by the Republican Government and full ngms of Spanish citizenship.

DRIVE FOR MEN FOR VICHY FLEET

(Rec, 7.20 p.m.). NEW YORK, Sept. 24. “Reports from France indicate the failure of the Vichy Governments drive to recruit 35,000 sailors to replace the obstinately pro-democratic crews at present aboard the anchored fleet says the “Christian Science Monitor s Washington correspondent. . .. “Nevertheless the French Cabinet, it is believed, opposed the turning over of the fleet to the Germans although German pressure is still capable of forcing the Cabinet’s hand. “The Laval administration has now realised that a surrendered fleet would immediately become the target for the Allies’ sea and air power. Furt more, the fleet has taken on a new ffifieance because of the reduction of the Italian Navy’s strength. Many Frenchmen still believe the day ot reckoning with Italy is coming.

ALASKA ROAD OPEN IN DECEMBER WASHINGTON. Sept, 24. The United States Secretary of War (Mr H L. Stimson) announced that the Alaska highway would be ready to use on December 1. The whole 1600 miles will be open to traffic until the spring thaws render it during April and May. The highway is months ahead of schedule. Moreover, instead of the rough, pioneer road which was originally contemplated, it is a welldrained truck road over its entire length.

Train Smash In U.S.—lt is believed that 23 people were killed when the Ambassador express from Detroit to Washington crashed into the rear of the Cleveland night express. The rear Pullman car of the Cleveland tram was struck bv a freight train going in the opposite direction. The smash occurred at Dickerson (Maryland). The Ambassador express’s Diesel engine overturned and caught fire. One sleeping car fell into a deep cut and nine injured persons have so far been sent to hospital.—New York, Sept. 25.