OFFICIAL DENIAL FROM VICHY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 24 October 1940, Page 5

OFFICIAL DENIAL FROM VICHY

1 United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (Received 24th October 915 a.m.) LONDON, 23rd October. The Berlin radio announced that Herr Hitler, somewhere in France, received M. Laval, Vice-Premier of the Vichy Government, in the presence of the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop. The talks are reported to have been concerned with the return of the Government to Paris. A German spokesman hinted that France would soon play an important role in the war. Berlin is full of rumours of pressure being exerted to bring France into the war on the side of the Axis. An official statement from Vichy describes these as ridiculous, declaring that France is merely concerned with defending her temt The Foreign Minister, M. Baudouin, stated that France hoped to collaborate with Germany after the conclusion of a just peace, but the post-war status of Alsace and Lorraine would affect their future relations. . c The Germans are throwing out their usual smoke screen ot intrigue over the meeting between Hitler and M. Laval, and have hinted at various terms for a final settlement between the two countries. It was also suggested that France should declare war on Britain as part of the bargain. Official statements from Vichy deny that M. Laval has gone to Paris to negotiate on those terms, but to discuss general matters concerned with immediate Franco-German relations. Reports to-day show that General Weygand as well as Marshal Petain, is opposed to these reported negotiations.

Meanwhile, of significance is the French comment on Mr Churchill’s stirring call to Frenchmen. The French Ambassador in Washington to-day told pressmen that he was very much impressed by the speech. The French newspaper. “Journal de Shanghai, the most powerful French organ in Shanghai, published the speech in full. Keuter’s correspondent in Shanghai says the speech created a favourable impression among the French colony. French Socialists in Great Britain have received a manifesto from the French Socialist Party “somewhere in France,” which shows that resistance to the German invader is growing. This manifesto, which has reached Britain by means undisclosed, was possibly printed in one of the 18 centres for the secret printing and distribution of pamphlets which the Paris police have unearthed. The existence of 18 such centres in Paris alone tells its own story. The French Socialist message says i that British resistance is shared by ] almost the whole of the French population. The receipt of this message is interpreted in Britain as proof of the ressitance of the workers and Socialists of France, which, it is said, grows stronger day by day. So far, the Vichy Government has not allowed any part of Mr Churchill’s broadcast to be published by a newspaper in France. The only comment has come from a French Foreign Ministry spokesman, who said that it was interesting to note that Mr Churchill tried to throw responsibility for the war on to the Germans. A message from Vichy says thA Mr ’ Churchill was heard plainly while; speaking in English, but he was com-1 pletely “jammed” when he began to speak in French and could not be heard. To-day in the House of Commons the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Butler, said that General de Gaulle was winning increasing support from prominent Frenchmen from all over the world. General de Gaulle has now returned to Duala in the Cameroons, after an extensive tour qf the interior as far as the Lake Chad region. Part of the area was visited by aeroplane, and everywhere General de Gaulle was given an enthusiastic welcome by Europeans and Africans. Another hint of the Axis desire for a compromise peace is given to-day in the organ of the German Storm Troopers. This usually bellicose paper claims in its latest issue that Germany never had any intention of destroying Britain, and says she will be prepared to consider a compromise peace. This article follows the appeal made by Signor Ansaldo in Count Ciano’s newspaper urging Britain to compromise with the Axis.