FOOD FOR FRANCE

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1940, Page 12

FOOD FOR FRANCE

VESSELS RUN BRITISH BLOCKADE. NEW YORK, December 13. A decision of the Petain Government to ordei’ the French Navy to convoy French merchantmen carrying raw materials and food to Marseilles and other French ports has seriously strained relations between France and Britain, states the Lisbon correspondent of the “New York Times.” It is learned on unimpeachable authority that the French have been breaking the British blockade in this manner for several weeks. A considerable quantity of food has been conveyed from Algiers and several convoys have not been molested when passing Gibraltar. The quantity wf raw materials taken to- France in this way is not sufficiently large as yet to suggest that the French are gathering materials for the Germans, but Britain’s fear that it may be the beginning of an important traffic is compelling her to take action to prevent riddling of the blpckade. It is understood that Mr. Churchill fears that interference with French convoys might force France into war with Britain. France insists that she is only carrying food for her own existence.

The establishment by the Germans of a second and third line of air bases deep in France and some in unoccupied France, may necessitate the British bombing that area even at the risk of bringing France into the war.

German Story ABOUT FOOD SUPPLY. LONDON December 13. The aecision of the British Government . not to agree to any lifting in the blockade for any country under German domination, which’ was announced by Lord Lothian on Wednesday, has been followed by the issue of a report in Berlin, which roundly declared: “Not only Germany, but the entire Continent, possesses sufficient foodstuffs and agricultural means to guarantee feeding all the countries under German administration.” The effect of these assurances on the anxieties expressed in certain unofflcial American quarters will be awaited with interest. By implication, the report constitutes a repudiation of the need for the Hoover plan, facilities for the operation of which have been refused by the British Government.