FRENCH TRIALS

Grey River Argus, 31 July 1940, Page 8

FRENCH TRIALS

FOR WAR GUILT Ex-Ministers Arraigned [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] VICHY, July 29. The Minister of Justice has recommended a special court, to try leaders for war guilt. The Magistrates will be “chosen for their political independence.” Those arraigned will include M. Daladier, General Gamelin, M. Reynaud, M. Cot, M. Lachambre, and M. Mandel. M. Mandel is the only one likely to face a charge carrying the death penalty. The others will face life detention. RUGBY, July 29.

Reports from Vichy indicate that M. Mandel, a former French Minister of the Interior, who is now being tried at Meknes, in French Morocco, is accused of attempting to communicate with the British Minister of Information, and Lord Gort, against the interests of France. The true facts relating to the visit of the British Minister to North Africa were made known in authoritative circles, in London this morning. Certain distinguished French statesmen were in North Africa after the collapse of France, and Mr Duff Cooper, who knew them personally, accompanied by Lord Gort, flew to see them. On arrival, the local authorities communicated to them that their visit would be unwelcome to the French statesmen concerned, whereupon they immediately returned to England without having any communications with the French Ministers. State of Brittany GERMAN RECOGNITION

GENEVA, July 29. An official German communique announces that Germany has expressly recognised the existence of Brittany, whose status is internationally being fixed by bilateral treaties. MORE CHANGES INDICATED GENEVA, July 29. The Germans are representing Fiance as a conglomerate of peoples, including Basques, Catalans, Flemings and Waloons, possibly presaging further separatist moves. VICHY, July 29. The sequestration of German and Italian property, which was ordered soon after the outbreak of war, is now rescinded. The French Government has issued a decree, providing the death penalty for all French volunteers serving abroad. The Government has protested enecgf,:enJJ.y to Britain against the leaflet air raids on unoccupied France. TRAINS NOT STOPPED. REFUGEES RETURNING. LONDON, July 29. Expressing astonishment at the reported stoppage of trains from occupied France, informed sources state that the boundary has been opened at four unspecified points to speed up the return of refugees to facilitate the harvest. French Army REORGANISATION IN SYRIA. (Received July 30, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 29. The Beirut correspondent of the British Associated Press says; There has been a military announcement here that the French are not demobilising further classes. This is interpreted as foreshadowing a reorganisation of the French Army m the mandated territories French Petrol Cargoes HELD UP BY BRITAIN. (Received July 30, 5.5 p.mj VICHY, July 30. The Havas News Agency says. “Britain is detaining, at Alexandria, the two tankers “Roxane” and “Melpomeme.” This is on the ground that petrol is an essential war supply’