VICHY AGREEMENT WITH NAZIS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 191, 10 May 1941, Page 12

VICHY AGREEMENT WITH NAZIS

No French Concessions Yet Announced LONDON SPECULATION

(By Telegraph. —Press Assn. —Copyright.)

(Received May 9, 7ioo p.m.)

LONDON, May 8

According to the Vichy correspondent of the Associated Press oi Great Britain, a semi-official spokesman stated that the German Government had made concessions to France because it wished to acknowledge the fidelity with which the French Government had observed the armistice conditions. The gesture by the Reich initiated a positive contribution toward closer ties between the two nations.

Despite the return of the VicePremier, Admiral Darlan, to Vichy the Franco-German conversations are reported to be continuing in Pali-:. Admiral Darlan still has . not announced any French concessions. The Vichy news agency today described the agreement as a real contribution on the part of the Reich toward the 'policy of collaboration. Agency reports describe this as the first of the hurdles which will be safely crossed on the road opened by Admiral Darlan.

British Official Wireless states that the omission of mention of concessions by the Vichy Government is commented upon in Loudon, where it is thought unlikely that the Nazis will give anything without something substantial in return. The furtherance of Nazi 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 may be the consequence of such an agreement and speculation is made 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 no! wise to reveal to the limelight of world opinion at the present time. PROTEST BY FRANCE Spanish Occupation Of Tangier LONDON, .May 8. Vichy reports that the French Government, acting for the Sultan of Morocco, has. strongly protested to Spain against the occupation of the international zone at Tangier and the taking over of the functions of the Sultan’s viceroy.