NAZI CONCESSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 117, 20 May 1941, Page 7

NAZI CONCESSIONS

100,000 PRISONERS TO BE RELEASED

COLLABORATION PLAN

LONDON, May 19. From Vichy comes more news about concessions granted by the Germans in exchange for French collaboration with the Axis. The Vichy Government announced this afternoon that approximately 100,000 prisoners of war are to be released. They are all men who served in the last war. This is described as the result of a methodical scheme, and it is stated that arrangements have already been reached for the release of 250,000 prisoners for revitalising French industry. Today Vichy said that French-Ger-man negotiations were continuing in la favourable way. Access to the prohibited zone of the north and east is provided for civil servants and heads of certain enterprises whose presence is necessary. There are more stories about Ger-1 man promises of certain materials and food for France, with a possible modification of the present border lines between the occupied and unoccupied zones. The French people seem to hsve been told nothing about the situation in Syria and elsewhere, but, in a broadcast last night, General Dentz, French High Commissioner in Syria, said that his army was ready to meet British aggression with force, He submitted that the provision enabling German aircraft to fly through Syria to Irak was strictly within the terms of the Armistice. A Vichy message says that Admiral Darlan has left for Paris, in a further stage towards French-German collaboration. ANTI-VICHY FEELING IN BATAVIA. A message from Batavia says that a demand is being made for the withdrawal of the Vichy Government representative in the Netherlands East ladies. One local newspaper suggests that the Vichy representative should no longer be permitted to fly the French flag. It says: "The once honoured Tricolour has become like a red rag in the eyes of a bull now that Petain and Darlan have steeped themselves- in the mire of treachery. We hope we shall not see the flag flying over the Consulate again till it has been adorned with the Cross of Lorraine." A British United Press message from Washington says that according to reports there the Vichy Government has refused to allow two United States food ships to leave Marseilles. The ships, it is stated, recently took 13,000 tons of flour to Marseilles, and the Vichy refusal is in direct violation of the understanding that they should be allowed to return after discharging their cargoes. According to Berlin, a communique dealing with the new situation between France and Germany will be issued in the next few hours. v