PRESSURE ON VICHY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 5 August 1941, Page 5

PRESSURE ON VICHY

NAZIS DEMAND AFRICAN BASES ( RLSIS APPROACHING REJECTION OF ULTIMATUM REPORTED 'Rec. 12.20 p in. • London, Aug. 4. French-German relations are again approaching a crisis as a result of German demands for bases at Dakar, Casablanca and Algiers. An unconfirmed report sys the Vichy Government rejected a German ultimatum. The Germans are also understood to have demanded a Cabinet reshuffle, involving the Ministries of War and the Interior. A neutral correspondent in Berlin ays the resistance offered by Vichy in Syria is not regarded in Berlin as sufficient proof of France's will to cooperate with Germany, who wants a Government in which she can place "unlimited trust.” Informed circles in London consider that pro-Nazi elements in the Vichy i Government may be restrained by fear ( of public outbursts. Vichy has insisted : on the right to protect French North and West African naval bases against ; the imperialistic designs of foreign i powers.—U.P.A. COLLABORATION IN FRENCH AFRICA RECONSTRUCTION OF CABINET London. Aug'. 4. Vichy to-day denied the New York j report that it had rejected a German ultimatum which was said to have been conveyed to it from Paris by ; the Compte de Brin on, Vichy’s envoy to Herr Abetz. The German-controlled Paris Press, however, continues to insist on FrancoGerman collaboration in north-west Africa and the reconstruction of the Government to include M. Laval. The French Communist Party has issued a manifesto advocating active resistance to the Germans. This is one of a number of documents published to-day by the monthly paper of the Communist Internationale.—U.P.A