FRENCH FLEET

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1940, Page 8

FRENCH FLEET

USE REFUSED TO NAZIS.

[by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, December 30.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says:—ln a message which Admiral Darlan has conveyed to Germany, Marshal Petain has made it clear that he would not tolerate the passage of German forces across unoccupied France, and also that he (Marshal Petain) could not contemplate Germany’s employment of the French Navy. It also stated that categorical assurances on these points have been given to Britain. The correspondent adds: “Reliable reports suggest that there are a considerable number of French warships steaming to Casablanca and to Dakar, and' to other French African ports. Possibly they are going with the object of supporting a move to regain the loyalty of these populations to the Vichy Government. It is more probable, however, that these warships are moving under orders to escape from the reach of the Germans, and also to prevent Germany from extending her occupation to French Africa.

PETAIN’S. BROADCAST

VICHY, December 29.

Marshal Petain to-day broadcast a message to the youth of France, who, he said, were paying for mistakes not their own. This was.a hard war, but conditions must be accepted, and not kicked against. France must prepare for a better to-morrow. He went on to say that Winter would be followed by Spring and it was the duty of the youth of France to . bring that springtime to their country.