FRENCH PROTEST

Grey River Argus, 7 May 1942, Page 5

FRENCH PROTEST

At Demand for Surrender NOTE TO AMERICA. LONDON, May's. The Governor of Madagascar reported to Vichy that the British ultimatum demanded unconditional surrender. . In Vichy the French Cabinet ha? met under Marshal Petain, who has sent to the Governor of Madagascar a message commending his rejection of the British ultimatum. ' M Laval, in a message to the Governor-General of Madagascar, said: “Again the British, instead of fighting their enemies, attack a French colony far from the metropolis. We will make the British pay dearly for this act of highway robbery. We do not forget that the British betrayed us in Flanders, attacked us treacherously at Dakar and in Syria; are murdering civilians in Paris’; and have tried to make women and children in Djibouti die Of hunger. The day will come when England will pay.” M. Laval has sent the following Note to the United States: “The. French Government protests very strongly against British aggression in Madagascar, and rejects as inadmissible the United States’ attempt to forbid France to defend herself.” Handing the Note to the United States Charge d’Affaires, M. Laval said that the final gesture between the two countries would not come from France.

AXIS NOT FIRST THIS TIME! NEW YORK PAPER’S CRITICISM OF FRENCH PROTEST. (Rec. 11.15.) NEW YORK, May 6. The “New York Times,” in a leading article, says: "There is an unmistakable threat in the Vichy Government’s reply to the declaration made of our -Government’s full support in the .British attempt to occupy Madagascar. The Note sent by M. Laval asserts that the Vichy Government cannot but leave to President Roosevelt part of the responsibility which will fall on him in the consequences which will result from this aggression. Of what consequences is M. Laval thinking ? In his own way, he is saying that, if he believes he can use this incident to confuse and inflame French sentiment, he will attempt some adventure such as the surrender of the French Fleet to 'Germany, or a French participation in the Germanled expedition to recover Syria. We faced this risk from the start in the case of Madagascar. But it' was a risk we had to take. With the example of what the French surrender of Indo-China has already cost us we could not possibly perimt Madagascar to fall to Japan. We couid not let it be used either as a base for a double-edged attack on India, or aS a threat to our supply lines to strategic battlefields in the Near East, where Hitler may be fighting before the Summer ends. We could only act before it was too late, trusting that the confidence of the French people in our motives and purposes can never be shaken by a man whom they know as well as they know Laval. Too long it has been the enemy that foresaw and attacked us. Now it is our turn.'’

JAPANESE COMMENT. CAN MADAGASCAR BE HELD? (Rec. 12.10.) NEW YORK, iVlay 6. The Tokio radio news commentator termed the occupation of Madagascar illegal. The British . and American circles had engaged in a malicious propaganda to the. effect that the Japanese forces were harbouring designs to occupy the island. Madagascar had never been menaced by Japan’s ambitions. The commentator added: The Japanese had been predicting the British occupation of Madagascar for some time.

The Domei News Agencv has quoted competent Japanese circles asdeclaring that Madagascar is the Allies’ second front, which, however, the Allies will not be able to maintain, because of their lack of men. ships and equipment. The Tokio official radio stated that tho Domei Agency, commenting on Madagascar, says; Competent Japanese observers predict the move will result in “closer co-operation of Vichy with the Axis,” and the military’ value of the occupation is doubtful because the Japanese navy “already controls the Indian Ocean.” It adds that further Allied incursions into France’s territory can be envisaged.

MARTINIQUE NEXT? AMERICAN DESIGN. WASHINGTON, May 5. Mr. Cordell Hull told the Press that American forces were ready to back up the British occupation of Madagascar, if necessary. At the same time; Mr. Hull disclosed that the Government was giving close attention to Martinique. Senator Barkley said that Madagascar was mentioned in Mr. Roosevelt’s weekly conference with legislative leaders. Replying to a question, Senator Barkley said that Mr. Roosevelt appeared to be pretty well satisfied about Madagascar. Asked whether Mr. Roosevelt had heaved a sigh of relief over Madagascar, Senator Barkley responded, “It’s always nice to get the jump on the other fellow.”

Lord Halifax remained with Mr. Roosevelt for 90 minutes after the meeting of the Pacific Council. Lord Plalifax said that the discussions dealt, principally with Madagascar. He added: “It’s nice to see the Axis is not first on the ground everywhere, isn’t it?—a very important place, Madagascar.” The Pacific War Council met at White House to-day. Mr. Arthur Smith, Secretary of the Australian Department of Supply, represented Australia Members generally applauded the Madagascar occupation as an essential, highly important strategic step. Mr. Nash said it would contribute to the defence ot the Indian Ocean. The action was good for France and the French PeoP l6 ' —