FRENCH AFFAIRS

Grey River Argus, 16 December 1942, Page 3

FRENCH AFFAIRS

FLEET AT ALEXANDRIA Allied Request for It COMMANDER INTERNED FOR REFUSAL. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.j LONDON, Dec. 14. ? The German-controlled Paris radio says that the Commander of the French Fleet interned at Alexandria, Admiral Godefroy, has refused a request to allow his ships to be used oy the Allies. The radio adds that in consequence Admiral Godefroy. has been .placed under strict surveillance, and is regarded as a prisoner of war. It was announced last week that Admiral Harwood was negotiating with Admiral Godefroy for the use of the fleet. Godefroy refused on the ground that under an agreement signed in June, 1940, the fleet would be interned until the end of the w. The French warships at Alexandria consist of the battleship Lorraine, the eight-inch gun cruisers Touivifle, Du Quesne and Suffren, .the six-inch gun cruiser Du Guaytrouin. three destroyers and one submarine. The views of the crews seem divided says the Paris radio. Part wisn to join Darlan, but Harwood made it clear that Britain would not tolerate their joining Darlan, and would insist upon the incorporation of the French squadron directly into the Royal N was given to-day by the Vichy radio that Frenchmen who failed to hand over all firearms by midnight to-night, would be liable to the death penalty.

Laval’s Statement WANTS GERMAN VICTORY. TO CHECK BOLSHEVISM. LONDON. Dec., 14. Vichy broadcast a statement bv M. Laval in which he said: “I must say, without equivocation or ambiguity, that I want a German victory, in order that my country will have a. chance of striking against the menace and scourge of Bolshevism. Some people under-rate the Bolshevist peril. They are either fools or blind. France has fallen very low, but is still something very great. I want France to find her place in Europe. There is only one road leading to that place—collaboration with Germans. This must transform the long perverted relations between Germany and France.” The Vichy radio announcer commented : The hour has come to oppose the evil forces which are working for a coalition between Communism and the LAVAL’S AGREEMENT. (Rec. 11.40.) MADRID, Dec. 15. It is reported from the French frontier thati M. Laval has agreed to alloy/ German experts to form a mew. French arm, and also to appoint 'German advisers for all French Ministries. FRENCH TERRITORIES. ' 8.0.W. RUGBY, Dec., 14 The State Department at Washington has received a report from the United States Consul at Dakar that the French authorities there have released all the British internees in West Africa, and also announced themselves firmly allied with the Allied cause. 8.0.W. RUGBY, Dec., 14

Mr. Eden and General de Gaulle today signed an agreement for the termination of the provisional military administration established in Madagascar bv the British authorities and its replacement by a' Fighting French administration. The necessary provision was made for the re-estab-lishment of French Sovereignty upon. the arrival of General Legentilhomme, who. is authorised to proceed with the reorganisation of French military forces for defensive and, if required, for offensive purposes. For the present, British Forces in Madagascar will be assigned the duty oi ensuring the defence of the territory against external attack. All questions which cannot be settled on the spot bv General Legentilhomme as High Commissioner and the Commanding Officer of the British troops, will be' decided by agreement between'the British Government and the French National Committee in London. General de Gaulle to-night declared that the agreement’signed with Mr. Eden restored the excerise of French sovereignty over Madagascar, and obliterated the consquences of the sad events which recently occurred there. ‘‘‘Thus, .our splendid! African colony will be-able in her turn, and at the service of France to make a substantial military and economic contribution to the war .effort. It is common knowledge that Madagascar and the whole French Empire would have wholeheartedly continued the war in June, 1940, but for the criminal policy which made that impossible.”