VICHY ATMOSPHERE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 37, 12 August 1941, Page 7

VICHY ATMOSPHERE

GERMAN PRESSURE

HEAVY DEMANDS

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, August 10. With debasing results of subservience to Germany rapidly piling' up, a tense atmosphere surrounds the talks which are being held between Marshal Petain and his chief advisers. The official spokesman at Vichy denied reports that Vichy is about to conclude an offensive alliance with Germany ostensibly aimed at Russia, but most sources agree that Germany has made fresh and heavy demands for the use of African ports.' The correspondent of "The Times" on the French frontier says that the developments cannot be examined too closely. Formulas must be found to enable Vichy to observe the dispositions under the armistice while makdng interesting counter-proposals to Germany. The German-inspired Press stresses the recent aggravation of the Vichy situation, especially with regard to relations with Britain and America. The Vichy news agency claims that the tension has eased, but the utmost secrecy is maintained about the subjects of Marshal Petain's talks. Mr. E. B. Wareing, correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph," says that the Germans have demanded facilities at Dakar, Algiers, Casablanca, and Bizerta* and that the moment has almost arrived for Vichy to decide once and for all between friendship with Germany or America. POSSIBLE BREAK WITH U.S.A. A Washington message says that according to the Associated Press of America a break in diplomatic relations between the United States and Vichy is reported to be likely if it should become evident that the impending French decisions involve Germany's obtaining the use of strategic bases on the African coast. The whole question of the interest of the Western Hemisphere in the French possessions is under intensive study in ton.For more than two days now Marshal Petain, Admiral Darlan, General Weygand, and others have argued and debated the German demands which Admiral Darlan brought back from Paris. A meeting of the Cabinet was fixed for yesterday, but it was post-' poned till tomorrow. One explanation, given by a Vichy correspondent, is that so far General Weygand has refused to ratify Admiral Darlan's policy of military collaboration with Germany in North Africa.