NAZIS THWARTED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 27, 31 December 1940, Page 6

NAZIS THWARTED.

FRENCH STAND FIRM. LONDON, Dec. 30. The Daily Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent says that in the message which Admiral Darlan (French Na\al Minister) conveyed to Germany -Marshal Retain made it clear that he would not tolerate the passage -of Germans across unoccupied France and could not contemplate Germany’s employment of the French Navy. He also stated that categorical, assurances on these points bad been given to Britain. The correspondent adds: Reliable reports suggest that a considerable number of French warships arc steadily streaming into Casablanca, Dakar, • nnd other French African ports, possibly with the object of supporting a move to regain the loyalty of these populations to Vichy. It is more probable, however, that they are moving in order to escape from the reach of the Germans, also to prevent German/ extending her occupation to 1' rcnch ‘ Another message says that M. Laial has admitted that the Germans recently suggested an alliance against Great Britain and that Marshal I etain refused.