THE BLOCKADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 144, 14 December 1940, Page 11

THE BLOCKADE

FRENCH BREAKING IT

AN AMERICAN REPORT

STRAIN ON RELATIONS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received December 14, 12.30 p.m.)

N£W YORK, December 13

The decision of the Petain Government to order the French navy to convoy French merchantmen carrying raw material and food to Marseilles and other French ports has seriously strained relations between France and Britain, says the "New York Times." Lisb6n has learned on unimpeachable authority that the French have been breaking the British blockade in this manner for several weeks. A considerable quantity of food has been convoyed from Algiers, and several | convoys have not been molested while passing Gibraltar. The quantity of raw materials taken to France in this way is not sufficiently large as yet to suggest that the French are gathering materials for the Germans, but Britain's fear that it may be the beginning of an important traffic is compelling her to take action to prevent the riddling of the blockade. It is understood that Mr. Churchill fears that interference with French convoys might force France into war with Britain. France insists only on carrying food for her own existence.

The establishment by the Germans of a second and third line of air basejs, deep in France, and some in unoccupied France, may necessitate the British bombing that area, even at the risjk of bringing France into the war.

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