DEMAND ON VICHY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24604, 12 May 1941, Page 5

DEMAND ON VICHY

PASSAGE OF TROOPS INDUSTRIAL CONCESSIONS SYRIA MENTIONED (Rec. 11 p.m.) BERNE, May 10. The Berlin correspondent of the Basler Nachrichten says that Wilhelmstrasse circles hint that Vichy has agreed to the passage of German troops through the French provinces and mandated territories, including Syria as a price for German concessions to Vichy. Syria, it is reported, has been " placed at Germany's disposal." It is believed that Vichy also agreed to take active steps against supporters of General de Gaulle and has approved of the passage of Germans through all Free French colonies.'

According to information received from an independent French agency. Vichy's " concessions " to Germany are industrial, and include assistance in rearmouring German tanks and also submarine repairs. Regarding the first, it is stated that the Balkans campaign proved that the armour of the German tanks did not offer sufficient resistance to Britain's new anti-tank weapons

Secondly, in view of the R.A.F damage inflicted on submarine repair shops in German and occupied French and Dutch ports. Admiral Raeder wishes to transfer the shops to the interior—a plan in which French industry is expected to play an important part.

WEYGAND'S PROTEST GERMAN "EXPERTS" ARRIVE LONDON, May 9. Despite protests from General Weygand, Admiral Darlan has allowed 200 German experts to land in French North Africa, says the Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent. , The Germans recently applied for visas for experts to be attached to the various armistice commission groups. The " experts" proved to be German airmen in civilian clothes. When General Weygand heard of their imminent arrival he protested to Admiral Darlan, stating that unless ordered to the contrary he would not allow" the party to land. The first batch was turned back, and then Admiral Darlan sent peremptory instructions to allow their entry Most of the 200 have now arrived. It is assumed that their ultimate purpose is to seize French aerodromes. A message from Vichy says the French police have rounded up 1800 refugees, mainly Jews, Czechs, Poles, and Jugoslavs, for assignment to a labour battalion in North Africa. Many had already received permits to leave France, and had booked their berths for America. CHAD TERRITORY FIGHT FOR FREEDOM (Rec. 10 p.mJ RUGBY, May 9. The Free French headquarters announces that in the course of his recent visit to Chad, General de Gaulle noted the excellent results obtained by the colony as regards both its own development and the capital contribution which it is making to the fight for freedom. Having travelled through the territory and inspected its defences, General de Gaulle decorated with the Cross of Liberation several officers and men who had distinguished themselves in recent operations.