HITLER’S TERMS TO VICHY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 May 1941, Page 5

HITLER’S TERMS TO VICHY

EARLY STATEMENT EXPECTED RELEASE OF FRENCH PRISONERS London, May 15. A statement is expected to be issued in Berlin to-day on the recent meeting between Herr Hitler and Admiral Darlan. It is predicted that the agreement may restore control of Paris to the French Government and release more than 200.000 French' prisoners of war. The French concessions demanded by Hitler are believed to have been disproportionately great. The “Daily Telegraph” says there is reason to believe that the meeting of the French Cabinet at which Admiral Darlan’s negotiations with Hitler were approved was concerned with the situation in Syria. The “Telegraph” says that Hitler is reported to have sent for Admiral Dorian in order to demand an assurance that if Germans were landed in Syria by air the French garrison would be withdrawn or refrain from intervening. When Hitler sends for a foreign statesman to hand him an ultimatum, he usually acts as though the terms have already been fulfilled, and consequently one may expect to hear at any moment that German planes carrying troops and materials have actually landed at Aleppo. The possibility of landings from the sea must also be considered. OFFICIAL SMOKESCREEN The official report after the meeting of the Cabinet in Vichy was merely a smokescreen, maintaining the pretence that Admiral Darlan’s visit was intended to conclude the economic negotiations. which actually already had been concluded, says the “Telegraph.” AXIS MILITARY MISSION ARRIVAL AT BAGDAD (Rec 1150 am.) London, May 15 According to Reuter’s Cairo correspondent, a lumber of German plane; with disguised markings landed ai

th»ee Syrian aerodromes, apparently bound for Iraq. Two Axis military missions arrived at Bagdad alter flying over Syria The Italian mission consists of two Air Generals with their staffs The German mission consists of fifteen members, vho arrived in two planes. A high German personage at Beirut is conferring with the Italian mission and the French authorities.