FRENCH PRISONERS

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1941, Page 5

FRENCH PRISONERS

RELEASE BY GERMANY.

100,000 Veteran Soldiers

[Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] VICHY, May 19.

It is officially announced that Germany has agreed to release immediately 100,000 French soldiers prisoners wh 0 fought in the last war. This is regarded as the first visible result of German-French negotiations.

It is noted that Germany is keeping the younger soldiers.

LONDON PAPER’S PREDICTION.

FRANCO-GERMAN AGREEMENT.

LONDON, May 19.

The “Daily Express” says: A joint French-German announcement is expected in a few days, as a result of the latest talks between Admiral Darlan and the Axis leaders. This, however, is likely to uncover only the more innocuous parts of any new agreement.

Full accord is Reported to have been reached on the following terms: Firstly, Mussolini to abandon nis claims to Nice and Savoy; secondly, Hitler to return to present Croatia to Mussolini; thirdly, Admiral Darlan to admit Mussolini’s title to the French colonies to Tunis and Corsica; fourthly, Admiral Darlan to collaborate fully with Germany. French and German collaboration, which already Jias been exposed if Syria, will be extended as circumstances dictate. Germans in Morocco ? SECRET TROOP MOVEMENTS REPORTED. LONDON, May 19. The “Daily Express” Tangier correspondent says:—Germany is massing troops, disguised in Spanish uniforms, in Spanish Morocco. It is believed that the Germans are preparing for an air assault on Gibraltar, or else for an attack on Dakar. Spanish Colonial authorities are assisting Germans to move secretly, to remote valleys in Morocco, troops equipped with tanks, armoured cars, and troop-carrying trucks. De Gaulle’s Followers DISOWN VICHY GOVERNMNET. CONTINUANCE OF WAR PREFERRED. RUGBY, May 19. j General de Gaulle’s headquarters in London announced: “On the occasion of the ‘agreements’ recently | concluded between the Vichy ‘Government’ and Germany, and in anticipation of the repercussion these agreements may have on the interests of France, and the attitude adopted in regard to her by other States, General de Gaulle and the Council :>t Defence of the French Empire, consider it ijecessary to bring the following remarks to the attention »-f the British Government, and to tne chiefs of Allied Governments, and the foreign diplomatic missions in. London.

“Firstly, the Vichy ‘Government’ by reason of the Armistice has placed itself in a position which deprives it of all independence in regard to the invader.

“Secondly: This same ‘Government’ has seized power and completely changed French institutions without in any way consulting the French; people, whose representatives havei not been able to express their opin-. ion, in the elementary conditions of| freedom and dignity. ( Thirdly: Since this usurpation, thej Vichy ‘Government’ exercises power, without any check by the French nation, which has not got the faintest possibility of being heard, since two-thirds of the country is occupied by the enemy, and one-third —under enemy control. —is subjected to a regime of complete silence. “Fourthly: According to the socalled ‘constitutional’ texts, which have been arbitrarily substituted for the French constitution, the source of authority of the Vichy ‘Government’ lies exclusively in the person ( of an old man of eighty-five, who for many years has been known to be enfeebled by age. “Fifthly: It follows from these facts that the Vichy ‘Government’ Is not 'in a position to exercise the prerogatives, of French sovereignty, and has no right to do so. In particular, the measures it is taking, in collaboration with the invader, are neither free nor legal, and consequently, cannot be considered as being approved by the French people. “Sixthly: Where French citizens have had the possibility of making their real feelings known, the vast majority manifested a desire _ for France to continue the war. This is the case in all territories of the Empire. which have been freed from Vichy,—and in all foreign countries—despite the severe punishments inflicted by Vichy at the order of the invader, on those who continue the struggle. “Seventhly: General de Gaulle ana the Council of Defence of the French Empire, whose authority is freely recognised throughout all French terr tories, already liberated from enemy control, who represent the real feelings of their fellow citizens, and who by every means in their power ensure the fulfilment of treaties and engagements subscribed to by France, cannot and must not be responsible for acts supposedly committed in her name, by rulers who usurped power, and who of their own accord nave subjected themselves to the enemy, thanks to the military defeat sufferei. by her armies when fighting for the common salvation of free, nations.. The French nation is continuing the| war by means of all her milita.y forces and . territories outside the control by the enemy, and should therefore still be considered as a belligerent nation by all States, and as an ally by those States who fight our common enemies. The French nation does not, at present, and will not m future, recognise any infringements of her territorial right committed by, any State in the world, owing to and ( taking advantage of the situation m which she has been placed by her enemies, and usurpers acting und?r the enemy who claim to rule her.”