FRENCH GOVERNMENT

Grey River Argus, 23 May 1941, Page 6

FRENCH GOVERNMENT

“TIMES” CHARGE Personal Gains as Policy [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Received May 22, 7.20 p.m-). ' LONDON, May 22 “The Times” says: Apparently, there is no German demand, however humiliating, which the Vichy Govenment either can, or will, refuse. The extent! of French complicity in Germany’s military operations is attested by abundant evidence. The Vichy Government has. thus far, withheld from the French Nation Mr Roosevelt’s recent proted] and warning. The men of Vichy have no illusions regarding detestation that their policy would provoke among the masses of the French people, who at heart are still Loyal, to old sympathies, and still imbued with a traditional love of freedom. But France is suffering absolute bankruptcy in leadership. Marshal Petain’s rule clearly is no mor e than nominal. Policy is dictated and carried out by men without loyalty, without conviction, and without any programme, except personal, profit and advancement. It is learned that M. Chartier, the Vichy Government's Consul-General in London, has left at the request of the British Government, as a result of the expulsion of M. Havard from Lebanon. RUGBY, May 21. Asked whether, under the VichyNazi agreement, French industrial resources were to be used to make war on their, former allies, the Foreign Under-Secretary (Mr. Butler) stated that there was no doubt anumber of industrial concerns in unoccupied France were working largely for the German account, and were producing goods of military importance for Germany. Mr. Butler added that agreements had been concluded in individual industriesFRENCH MINISTERS IN PARIS. LONDON, May 22. The British United Press Vichy correspondent says: General Huntziger and M. Bouthillier have joined Admiral Darlan at Paris. French Government MAY RETURN TO PARIS. (Received May 22, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. The London “Daily Telegraph” says: The meeting of the French Cabinet members in Paris on Wednesday may be the preliminary to the , regular operation of the French Government from Paris. But Germany has not yet made this concession. Before holding the Cabinet meeting in Paris, Admiral Darlan had to consult Herr Abetz (the German representative at Paris). Herr Abetz ordered him to dismiss Herr Sellier, Mayor of Suresnues. French Ships ORDERED TO AVERT CAPTURE BY BRITISH. (Received Mav 22, 7,20 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. The British Ministry of Economic Warfare has announced that it gained possession .of an order, signed on behalf of Admiral ’ Darlan, instructing captains of French merchantmen to scuttle their ships in order to avoid the capture of the vessels by the British.

Martinique Island

PRO-AXIS INFORMATION

CENTRE.

(Received May 23, 12.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 22.

The “New York Times” Panama correspondent says: Martinique Island is becoming a propaganda centre in Latin America for the distribution of the Vichy Government’s information. That aids the Axis powers. Funds are not likely to be available in this work from the Vichy Government. The question therefore arises whether they are furnished by Germany,, or are part of frozen French funds in United States released for relief purposes in Martinique. The Berlin radio announced that the land, sea and air forces at Martinique have received orders “to be prepared to repel any attack.” WASHINGTON, May 21. The State Department announced that the United States has been asked to withdraw the diplomatic staff from Paris by June 10. The United Press of America understands that all the other diplomatic staffs in Paris have been notified likewise. The Associated Press learned authoritatively that the United States has made the equivalent of a diplomatic demand on the Vichy Government, for a' fortnight declaration in writing of France’s intentions regarding collaboration with Germany. LONDON, May 21. With a German request to the United States to withdraw diplomatic representatives from Paris, also a conference of Vichy Ministers in Paris, and German emphasis that the French “now realise they have no choice but to submit,” France’s relations with the democratic world merge with the new and more crucial developments of the war situation. Early Peace VICHY GOVERNMENT’S EXPECTATION. LONDON, May 21. The “Daily - Telegraph’s” French frontier correspondent says: Vichy correspondents agree that the Petain Government has “dropped the mask.” Nothing is now heard about adhering to strict terms of the armistice, or respect for the difficulties of a former ally.

“After the fall of Yugoslavia and Greece, the Vichy Government were convinced a German victory was inevitable, and have taken care to propagate this belief among the French people, who are allowed to hear little of Italy’s defeats in Africa, but much about the prospect of an early peace. They were told it

will be Hitler’s magnanimity to give France a role in Europe, second only to Germany’s. Among the advantages Hitler expects from Vichy’s compliance is the production of a state of affairs, amounting to war be<nHfien France and Britain, resulting from hostilities between Vichy and the Free French troops, also from other anti-Allied action, which Vichy admits it is contemplating.

GERMAN COMMANDED IN PARIS.

(Received May 22, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 22.

According to the “Daily Mail’s” Madrid correspondent. General Von Brauchitach, the German Command-er-in-Chief, has gone to Paris for important talks, which may decide the future and extent of French-German collaboration. He was met -in Pans by General Von Stuelpnagel. who is commanding the German Army of Occupation, in Francje, and who is also participating in talks.