British Terms For Allowing Food Ships to Pass To France

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1941, Page 5

British Terms For Allowing Food Ships to Pass To France

LONDON, March 16.

The “Sunday Times” says it is understood the British Government, after consultation with the United States, has decided not to oppose the passage of food ships between unoccupied France and North Africa provided that all food sent is consumed by the French population; that distribution is supervised by the American Red Cross, which will also be entitled to watch goods’ traffic from unoccupied France to occupied France; that the Italians and Germans must no longer requisition cargoes arriving in unoccupied France from the French colonial empire; that the Vichy Government must undertake immediately to halt German infiltration into North Africa. Would Benefit Germany.

The quantity of food allowed to enter unoccupied France under this plan would be determined similarly to the cases of Spain and Portugal in relation to the normal food importing requirements of unoccupied France, after taking into account local food production and also the population.

Indirectly this system would benefit Germany because occupied France, which is the granary of unoccupied France, would no longer be asked to supply the Vichy Government’s needs. The most important condition is that no more Germans must be allowed to enter North Africa to

plan U-boat and air bases, from

which to attack British shipping, Hopes for Agreement.

A message from Vichy says the cabinet has decided to construct a railway connecting North Africa and French West Africa.

A message from Washington says the British Ambassador (Viscount Halifax), conferred with the Secretary for State (Mr. Cordell Hull), and it is believe 4 they discussed general matters and also the question of sending food to unoccupied France.

Later the French Ambassador (Mr. Haye) conferred with Mr. Hull, after which he said he was hopeful that some agreement could be reached to permit food to reach France under the control of American agents. An article in the “New Statesman,” says a British Official Wireless message, asserts that it is certain that of the supplies Britain now allows to enter Marseilles, more than half have already been sent to Germany.