Vichy Expects Nazi Move on Gibraltar

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 96, 23 April 1941, Page 7

Vichy Expects Nazi Move on Gibraltar

Passage of Unoccupied Area Of France i BID FOR SPANISH AID United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, April 21. It is accepted in governmental circles in Vichy that a German movement to Spain for action against Gibraltar is inevitable writhin a tew weeks, and possibly within days, says the Vichy correspondent of the Associated Press. Hitler’s representative in Paris, Otto A'betz, is reported to be about to demand a passage for German troops across unoccupied France to Spain. It is unofficially reported from Vichy that Herr Hess (Hitler’s chief deputy) flew to Madrid with a personal letter from Hitler to General Franco proposing that six German divisions be given passage across Spain to Gibraltar in exchange for food and territorial guarantees. After conferring with General Franco Herr Hess returned to Berlin. The Geneva correspondent of the Daily Mail says that 8000 Italians clad as civilians have gone to Germany in the last three nights, ostensibly to work for Germany, but it is believed that their destination is Spain. The Basque delegation in London to-day announced the formation of a Basque National Council. ‘ 1 We are going to the democracies to fight the totalitarian Powers and to attain full national liberty for. the Basques and international recognition for the Government formed at Guernica in 1936,” says the announcement. <«General Franco subdued but never gained the souls of the Basques. ’ ’