Tempting German Bait For Vichy

Northern Advocate, 4 December 1941, Page 5

Tempting German Bait For Vichy

(Rec. 2 p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 3. As a bait to secure control of the French Fleet and the colonies Germany has offered big concessions to Vichy, says the “Daily Express.” The offer may prove too tempting for Petain to resist. Reports from Axis sources reaching Stockholm says Germany has offered: (1) To release all French prisoners of war, an act for which the Nazis know millions of wives and mothers in France would sacrifice anything. (2) To allow Petain to regain full authority over the whole of France (the Vichy Government would then return to Paris). (3) To evacuate all of France except Lorraine and several other strategic points. (4) To reduce the cost of German occupation from £1,800,000 daily to £300,000. In exchange the Germans are reported to have asked for the entire French Fleet to be handed over to Germany, and for Germany to be given a free hand in , all French colonies.

Towards New Order

A Berlin news agency report says there are good reasons to suppose France is orienting her policy towards European solidarity. The PetainGoering meeting is only the first of a series of contacts which are expected to produce important results. A Zurich message says German political circles are proclaiming a new era of Franco-German co-operation The “Boersen Zeitung” emphasises the importance of Dakar as a naval base and African bridge-head. Heavy Vichy reinforcements have landed at Dakar in the past few days. The Zurich correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that whatever the decision regarding French concessions the armistice terms plainly will be revised.

The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” asks why Goering was selected to confer with Petain. He concludes it was because Goering is probably pressing for greater French aeroplane production in face of the mounting Anglo-American production. France already allocates to Germany eight of every 10 aeroplanes produced in France.

Such of the cable news in this issue as is so headed has appeared in “The Times,” and is s,ent to this paper by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions ai'e not those of “The Times” unless expressly stated to be so.