SECRET TALKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20631, 12 August 1941, Page 5

SECRET TALKS

TENSION IN VICHY NEW GERMAN DEMANDS U.S. WATCHING CLOSELY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 12, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 11. With the debasing result of subservience to Germany rapidly piling up, a tense atmosphere surrounds the talks between Marshal Petain and his chief advisers. A Vichy official spokesman denied reports that the Vichy Government 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 Alrican ports. The Times correspondent on the French frontier says that the developments cannot be examined too closely. Formulae might be found to enable the Vichy Government to observe the armistice dispositions, while making interesting counter-proposals to Germany. The German-inspired press stresses the recent aggravation of the Vichy Government’s situation, especially in regard to relations with Britain and America. Facilities Demanded The Vichy news agency claims that the tension has eased, but the utmost secrecy is being maintained about the subjects of Marshal Petain’s talk's. Mr. E. B. Wareing, the Daily Telegraph correspondent, says that the Germans have demanded facilities at Dakar, Algiers, Casablanca and Bizerta. The moment has almost arrived for the Vichy Government to decide once and for all between friendship with Germany or America. 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 becomes evident that the impending French decisions involved Germany’s obtaining the use of strategic bases on the African coast. The whole question of the Western Hemisphere interest in French possessions is under intensive'study in Washington.