FREE FRENCH FORCES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 20 May 1941, Page 6

FREE FRENCH FORCES

VICHY GOVERNMENT DENOUNCED AGREEMENTS WITH GERMANY [British Official Wireless) (Rec., 1.25 p.m.) Rugby, May 19. General de Gaulle's headquarters in London announced: “On the occasion of the ‘agreements' recently concluded between the Vichy ‘Government* and Germany and in anticipation of the that these agreements may have on the interests of France and the attitude adopted in regard to - her by other states. General de Gaulle -and the Council for the Defence of -the French Empire consider it necessary to bring the following remarks to 7rth» attention of the British CJovern~fj«»ent and to the chiefs of the Allied -Governments and foreign diplomatic 1-missions in London:— J. “fl) The Vichy ‘Government’ by ■ reason of the armistice has placed itself in a position which deprives it of all independence in regard to the inevader. ■J “(2) This same ‘Government’ has

‘seized power and compeltely changed ['French institutions without in any way . consulting the French people, whose ! representatives have not been able to express their opinion in the element- . ary conditions of freedom and dignity. ! “(3) Since this usurpation the Vichy , » .‘Government’ exercises power without] aqy check by the French nation, which j ha£ not got the faintest possibility of [ 'bejing heard, since two thirds of the I ’country is occupied by the enemy and | •one-third—under enemy control— sub- j •jected to a regime of complete silence. “(4) According to the socalled ‘con stitutional’ texts which have been arbitrarily substituted for the French Constitution. the source of Authority of the j .Vichy ‘Government’ lies exclusively in ) _the person of an old man of 85 who for , • [many years has been known to be enfeebled by age. • “(5) It follows from these facts that -the Vichy ‘Government’ is no* in a . position to exercise the prerogatives cf French sovereignty and has no right to do so. In particular, the measures it is taking in collaboration with ‘he invader are neither free nor legal and consequently cannot be considered as bsing those of the French people. „‘“(6) Where French citizens have had jthe opportunity of making their real teelings known the vast majority maniiested a desire for France to continue the war. This is the case in all the territories of the Empire which have '[been freed from Vichy—and in all foreign countries—despite severe punishments inflicted by Vichy at the order ”t>f the invader on those who continue to struggle “(7) General De Gaulle and the Council for the Defence of the French Empire. whose authority is freely recognised throughout all French territories already liberated from enemy control, who represent the real feelings of their fellow citizens and who by every means •in their power ensure the fulfilment of treaties and engage- j ments subscribed to by France, j cannot and must not be responsible for 1 acts supposedly committed in her name j by rulers who usurped power and who of their own accord have subjected 1 1 themselves to the enemy, thanks to the ; military defeat suffered by her armies j when fighting for the common salva- ' tion of free nations. The French nation ! iis continuing the war by means of all -her military forces in the territories : •outside the control of the enemy, and .should therefore still be considered as a belligerent nation by all States and as j an ally by those States who fight our ! common enemies. The French nation does not at present, and will not. in the ! future recognise any infringements of her territorial rights committed bv any State in the world, owing to and taking advantage of the situation in whicli she has been placed by her enemies and usurpers acting under the enemy. . who claim to rule her ”