FRANCE AND GERMANY

Grey River Argus, 23 November 1942, Page 5

FRANCE AND GERMANY

Call for Volunteers TO DEFEND FRENCH EMPIRE. (Rec. 10.10) LONDON, Nov 21. The Vichy radio has appealed for Volunteers for the Falange Africane, which is being established, with its headquarters at Vichy. ' Mr. Laval, in a statement, said that he would not stand in the way ot Frenchmen who desired to volunteer for the defence of the French Empire. LAVAL IN TROUBLE. A GERMAN VIEW. (Rec. 10.10) BERLIN, Nov. 21. A German Foreign Office spokesman said: The position wherein M. Laval -found himself could not be described as rosy. It is not yet to be foreseen how M. Laval intends to solve the task before him, or if he will succeed in finding a basis whereon France will be able to play her part in Europe.

Laval’s View ENTENTE WITH GERMANY ONLY GUARANTEE OF PEACE (Rec. 7.30) LONDON, Nov. 21. M. Laval in a broadcast to the French people said: “I am sure that Germany will be victorious; but, even if I thought that she would be defeated, I would not change my policy. The situation to-day is a tragic one. The British and the Americans are tearing France to bits, limb by limb and life by life. France cannot live without her empire. Yet, Britain and A.merica have robbed her of it. It is in the interests of France to come to a direct reconciliation with German, 1 )* An entente with Germany is the sole guarantee of European peace. We want Bolshevism to be kept from our French civilisation. If President Roosevelt wins, the Americans and the Jews will dominate France. Some of you must be wondering whether France will defend her empire against De Gaulle. If we could, we would jump at his throat, but we have not the means.”

Darlan’s Policy AGAINST LAVAL’S (Rec. 7.40) LONDON. Nov. 21. Broadcasting over the Algiers radio Admiral Darlan said: “We have sworn allegiance to Marshal Petain, but not to M. Laval. Marshal Petain after the armistice, followed the only possible policy—that of enabling France to live and of preventing the German occupation of North Africa. Without this policy, it would have been more difficult for the Allies to assist us to regain our liberty. Marshal Petain shares my friendly feeling for th e Americans. I am following his earlier instructions in accepting British and American aid in the liberation of French sovereignty.

Iraq Premier WELCOMES ALLIED LANDINGS. (Rec. 6.30.)' WASHINGTON. Nov. 21. Nura Has Said Pasha, Iraq Prime Minister, in a letter to Mr Roosevelt, says: “The whole Mediterranean scene has been changed in a few days. All the United Nations’ friends, particularly Arab races of North Africa, who are nearest, are full of rejoicing, and are grateful to vou personally, as the originator of this great action. News of the landings in Morocco and Algieria came as a tremendous surprise. In great exaltation, we had not realised the magnitude of the operation. ! White House attaches great importance to the letter, explaining that Nura is a devout Moslem, a distinguished soldier and statesman, and an outstanding personage in the Islamic world.