BRITISH FLEET'S ACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1940, Page 11

BRITISH FLEET'S ACTION

RELATIONS SEVERED

"A Repugnant Act"

Nazi Influence Seen

CU.P.A4 and Official Wireless.) (Received July 6, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 5. The French Charge d'Affaires, M. Cambon, protested to the Foreign Office on behalf of the Petain Government against the action of the British Fleet against the French fleet in the Mediterranean. It was officially announced at Vichy that as a result of the battle at Oran the Council of Ministers had decided to break off diplomatic relations with Britain. The Berlin radio states that the French Cabinet, meeting under the presidency of M. Lebrun on July 4, decided to break off relations with Britain after hearing an account of the unjustified attack by the British Fleet at Oran against units of the French fleet, and after paying a high tribute to the heroism of the French fleet. It is noted o with interest in London, as instancing the control whiclL Germany is exercising over the Petain Government, that the first reports of the intention of the Petain Government to sever diplomatic relations with Britain emanated from Berlin sources and only later were made from Vichy. The Madrid wireless says that Marshal Petain issued a proclamation at Vichy describing the engagement at Oran as "a repugnant act." No official intimation Jias yet been received in London that the Petain Government has decided to break off diplomatic relations with Britain. Geneva reports that a French Admiralty communique confirms that the battleship Bretaghe was sunk and that the Dunkerque, the Provence, and the Mogador were set on fire. It complains that the six-hour ultimatum, did not give the fleet time to weigh anchor before the British opened fire. "Admiral Gensoul replied to the ultimatum that there could be no question of the French fleet joining the British or being1 scuttled and that he would meet force with force." it was stated. "The first fire from the British would have the practical effect of putting the entire French navy against Britain—a consequence which he knew Britain did not desire." The communique added: "France, indeed, would never have considered the delivery to any PoAver of a fleet which had not been conquered." It was stated that Marshal Petain, Admiral Darlan, and M. Baudouin, the Foreign Minister, had repeated this to Mr. Churchill and Mr. Alexander, and the British Admiralty. .."The French. Admiralty, notes with painful feeling," it was' stated, "that the misfortunes of France have left unmoved the English rulers, who are thinking only of becoming the masters of the French fleet, which must remain French or perish. The French navy in any case does not deserve to be stabbed on the order of Mr. Churchill, who last winter implored the French Admiralty for the loan of its principal vessels to protect Canadian ships because the British Admiralty no longer had the necessary means of doing so." * The French Embassy at Madrid stated that it was understood that the battle between British and French, ships at Oran was still in progress this morning, but that no details were available.

Gibraltar, which i s reported to have had its first air raid of the war.