ON BRITAIN'S SIDE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1941, Page 7

ON BRITAIN'S SIDE

REPORTED REPLY TO HITLER

FLEET AND COLONIES

IF FORCE IS USED

IBy Telegraph—Press Association—Copy right.)

LONDON, February 3

The Lisbon correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" said yesterday that it was authoritatively stated that Marshal Petain told Hitler that the French fleet and colonies would re-enter the war on Britain's side if the Germans take over unoccupied France.

! Petain's statement, the correspondent said, was in reply to a German Note demanding: (1) Bizerta; (2) the passage of troops to Marseilles or to Toulon; (3) the transport of troops and war material to Bizerta in French ships. A verbal warning was given of the occupation of unoccupied France in the event of rejection of the" demands. It is conjectured, he added, that Hitler may' alternatively attempt to seize Bizerta, using all Italy's available warships, covered by the Luftwaffe. From other sources today there are rumours that the German pressure on Marshal Petain will take many forms. It is even suggested that the marshal has received a 24-hour ultimatum. The most concrete expression of the situation is that there is a threat to create an entirely new France—a Quislingist France—beginning with the committee of the Rassemblement National Populaire, with M. Laval as head of the State in fact if not by name. The widespread popular suspicions against such a puppet committee, both in France and the colonies, will probably restrain Hitler from moving openly in this direction. The Lyons (Petain-controlled) radio today declared that the supporters of the Rassemblement comprise men who have been ceaselessly opposed to Petain's Government. From Vichy it is reported that Admiral Darlan's conversations will produce a reshuffle in the leadership, establishing a quadrumvirate of Laval, Baudouin, Darlan, and General Huntziger under Petain.