PEACE DELEGATES MEET

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 7

PEACE DELEGATES MEET

TERMS ON WAY TO FRANCE

Fighting Continues

LYONS OCCUPIED BY THE ENEMY

{By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received June 21, noon.) LONDON, June 20. It was officially announced from Bordeaux that the French plenipotentiaries met the German representatives this afternoon. The Berlin news agency reported that the French Government nominated as its plenipotentiaries General Huntziger, M. Leon Noel, Rear-Admiral Leluc, and Air Marshal Pergfret. The German High Command immediately ordered that the French envoys he received. The Bordeaux correspondent of the British United Press says it is reported without*confirmation that the French representatives are General Huntziger, M. Baudouin (the new Foreign Minister), and M. Leon Noel. New York reported that the official Italian news agenqy stated that hostilities between France and Germany and Italy were expected to cease on June 21 or 22 at the latest. It added that the French plenipotentiaries were returning to Bordeaux with the terms. The French radio announcement appealed again to the French populace to wait the result with calm and to give all help to the soldiers in their continued resistance. The French Government announced that it is leaving Bordeaux, which is being declared an open town in order to avoid useless destruction. The French radio reported that German advanced forces N had occupied Lyons, and that there was nothing fresh about negotiations with Germany, the names of the plenipotentiaries remaining secret for the present. According to^ a Madrid message, an unidentified radio states that Marshal Petain resigned after appointing the plenipotentiaries and that M. Laval was charged with forming a new Cabinet. A Berlin radio announcement said that the war in France continued, and that the members of the French Government were not all agreed on the question of laying down their arms. A message from Rome states that Italy replied to France's request for an armistice that she would fix a place and a date for negotiations after France had notified the names of her plenipotentiaries. Leading members.of the French colony in Cairo passed a resolution protesting against the negotiations with Germany and demanding a fight to the finish. A message sent by the Havas (French) news agency from Tunis states that the elected representatives of the French population in Tunisia sent the following message to Marshal Petain:— "Tunisia cannot be dissociated from France. We desire to help and defend France and the French Empire by all possible means." It was announced officially by radio that France has ordered her fleet to report at the nearest French or Algerian port to await orders. The Vice-Admiral in command at Toulon issued a proclamation stating that Toulon will be defended by all available means if it is attacked.