IN FRANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1940, Page 5

IN FRANCE

| THE CONSTITUTION BRITISH TO BE INTERNED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, July 9. The “Daily Mail’” says: Five hundred British subjects who travelled in an evacuee tram troni the south of France on June 27, were completely cut off. All attempts to make contact with them have failed. No foreigner is allowed to go into the unoccupied parts of France. British subjects will be interned. GERMANY’S INTENTION. BERLIN, July 8. The “Hamburg Fremdenblatt’” stated Alsace-Lorraine will become part of Germany under the peace terms. The Rhine, hereafter, will be Germany’s river, not Germany’s frontier. RETURN OF FRENCHMEN. LISBON, July 9. Two British steamers have arrived here, bearing two thousand French troops, who are returning to France ai> their request. REVISION APPROVED. VICHY, July 9. The Government of Marshal Petain on Monday night approved of the plans for the revision of the French Consititution. 1 RUGBY, July 8. It is expected, that the British Government will consider and reply to t>»iA French communication regard-, irig the withdrawal of the French Embassy from London. Until then, the precise relationship between the Governments cannot be clearly defined. BRITISH RESTRICTIONS.

ON FRENCH NATIONALS. HAIG BY, July 8. The French nationals in Britain, who hitherto have been exempted from all wartime restrictions applying to aliens, such as the curfew regulations and the prohibition against' entering particular areas are now subject to the same"restrictions as apply to allother aliens of non-enemy nationality. Special consideration is to be given to those French citizens who satisfy the authorities that they are willing to actively support the Allied cause. PRO-GERMANS TO BE: RELEASED. "BERLIN, July 9. The Armistice Commission has decided to release all prisoners in France who were sentenced for activity in German interests.' THE NEW CONSTITUTION. LONDON, July 8. The abolition of France’s 70-year-old constitution will take.only minutes, according to a despatch from, Vichy published in a Grenoble newspaper. Under the new constitution Marshal Petain becomes Chief of the Executive assisted by a triumvirate which includes M. Laval and General Wegand. M. Laval becomes Minister for the Interior. In voting itself out of existence, according to the dispatch, the French Parliament will make way for the new order in France’s relations’, with Europe. It is expected that not many members of the Senate will be included in the new Government. All trade unions are to be abolished. THE NEW BILL. (Received this day at 10.30 a.m.). VICHY, July 9. The text of the new Constitution Bill now before the Senate and Deputies, reads: “The National Assembly gives all powers to the Government under Marshal Petain’s signature. 1 ' The authority is, in effect, the promulgation of a new Constitution of the French State, which as at present constituted, cannot guarantee the rights oi labour, family, or Fatherland. The new Constitution will be ratified by the Assemblies it creates.

The Foreign Office, announces M. Gambon (cabled on July sth.) has been provisionally suspended. His request to be placed on the retired list has been refused.