NEW AND CRITICAL PHASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 May 1941, Page 5

NEW AND CRITICAL PHASE

BRITAIN'S RELATIONS WITH VICHY USE OF SYRIAN AIR BASES BY AXIS I United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) London, May 1 6. The Vichy correspondent of the British United Press say 3 that Marshal Petain’s agreement with Herr Hitler means that henceforth the whole French political, economic, financial, and colonial policy will conform with the desires of the Axis, and this will include placing France’s African empire at the disposal of the Axis for common development. “The Times,” in a leading article, says: “The German officers and technicians in Iraq are probably preparing for the advent of much larger forces in Syria as the pivot of the Axis’ strategy in the Levant, and France cannot escape the responsibility for this unfriendly action against Britain. Admiral Darlan cannot complain if the aerodromes of Syria suffer our attacks, or if a grant of further facilities to the Germans compels us to take more extensive precautions. “The whole episode calls for careful reconsideration of the basis on which our policy to Vichy has hitherto rested—the supposition that Vichy would not actively assist the designs of the Axis.”

All London newspapers agree that a new ar.i critical phase has been reached in the British relations with the men of Vichy. The “Daily Express” says the painful possibility of direct conflict between Britain and Vichy must be faced. Admiral Darlan had been warned, and he must take the consequences. The “Daily Mail” says the time has come when Britain’s desire to avoid a quarrel with her old friend must take second place to her own self-preserva-tion. The “News Chronicle” says that action j the only answer to the betrayal of the French people and the terms of the German-French armistice. The “Daily Telegraph” recalls the warning of last July that Britain could not allow Syria or the Lebanon to be occupied by a hostile Power or to be used as a base for attacks on countries in the Middle East which Britain is pledged to defend. NEGOTIATIONS NOT OVER The Vichy correspondent of the British United Press reports that all messages from Vichy relating to the French German relationship will henceforth be subject to censorship, though they have been free from that in the last five months. The Berlin Foreign Office described reports of an agreement between Germany and France as premature, and it was stated that the talks had not been eluded yet. A Swiss source states that the French people are being kept completely in the dark about Vichy’s new concessions to Germany. It is also reported that Swiss newspapers have been banned in France. ROUND-UP OF JEWS The German-controlled radio in Holland states that the Vichy authorities have arrested 20,000 foreign Jews in unoccupied France, and that 5000 Jews have been arrested in Paris. Reports reaching Switzerland say that the Jews rounded up in Paris have been sent to the Orleans district and are being used as forced labour. They are being compelled to clear the streets, build aerodromes and roads, and remove garbage. BLOCKADE REFERENCE Commenting on the latest actions of the Vichy Government, the official newspaper of the Soviet trade unions, the “Trud,” says that France depends for grain supplies on imports from America, and Britain’s control of the sea routes should influence the Vichy Government.