NEW FRENCH POLICY

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1940, Page 6

NEW FRENCH POLICY

WILL IT BE PRO-GERMAN ? Flandin’s Reported Attitude [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn. J (Received December 17 7.40 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 16. - On the basis of an interview with M. Flandin, French Foreign Minister, on March 20 last, which he states he promised to keep confidential until after M. Flandin came into power, the Overseas News Agency’s London correspondent declares: “M. Flandin’s appointment as Foreign Minister is Herr Hitler’s final trump card against Britain. It means that Herr Hitler is convinced that in Italy the Clericals and the Anti-Fascists will soon overthrow Signor Mussolini, and Herr Hitler wants to forestall any possibility of French . assistance in overthrowing Signor Mussolini, and wants also to prevent the Vichy Government from linking up with a Catholic Latin bloc, consisting of i Italy under Signor Mussolini’s successor, and Spain, Portugal, and the . South American countries. This wouiu be an ftnti-Nazi bloc, but it would attempt to mediate for an AngloGerman peace.” i The correspondent adds: “Herr Hit- [ ler will attempt, through M. Flandin, to influence the Vichy Government towards war against Britain, and to hand over the fleet.” The correspondent further reports: “M. Flandin on March 20 last said: • J “When Herr Hitler came to power, I knew that France was finished and that there remained nothing to do but to sever the Anglo-French alliance, and make an alliance with Germany, frankly acknowledging the Germans’ military, political, and economic domination in Europe, and that France’s pre-eminently agricultural economy is complementary to Germany’s industrial economy. A mu-tually-beneficial agreement would thereby be possible. Naturally, Herr Hitler would control the Frencn foreign policy, army, and navy if war j develops into real bloodshed. Herr Hitler would then be justified manding his pound of flesh, which might involve even France in war against Britain.” PARIS STUDENTS ANTI-GERMAN DEMONSTRATIONS , (Received December 17, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 17 The Paris radio stated that fifty students recently arrested for antiGerman demonstrations will be tried by a German military tribunal. (Received December 17, 11.20 p.m.) VICHY, December 16. Herr Abetz, accompanied by seven experts and an escort of nine soldiers, has arrived here. He visited M. Flandin. -Marshal Petain will receive jHerr Abetz to-morrow. Later there will be a State luncheon, after which Herr Abetz will return to Paris.