SWIFT EVENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24613, 22 May 1941, Page 7

SWIFT EVENTS

j MOVING TO CLIMAX I SITUATION IN SYRIA | SWING TO DE GAULLE i i - - (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON. May 21. In Syria events are moving to a climax. The Vichy Minister for Air. General Bergeret, in a statement, said that Vichy intended to defend the French possessions in Syria, Dakar and elsewhere. The growing dissatisfaction in Syria with the Vichy Government is staled to provide the purpose of Genera] Bergerefs .visit there. It is reported that he will arrange for defence of aerodromes. Many Arrests Ths Cairo correspondent of The Times reports that the internal situation in Syria is growing worse. At Beirut the electric power station has broken down, putting out of action lights and tramways. Rationing, which is already severe, has been considerably tightened up and a systematic campaign of arrests has begun with the roping in of French officers, officials, and Syrian politicians in Beirut and Damascus, who are suspected of sympathising with. General de Gaulle. The Government has also started mass dismissals in a political purge. In France itseit Admiral Darlan has threatened strong action against civic officials for non-co-operation. Threat of Reprisals High authorities in Vichy declared that if Britain continues to bomb French aerodromes in Syria. France will inevitably carry out reprisals. Another repoi't from the Middle East states that feeling i - growing in Syria against Vichy’s capitulation to Germany. and there is a marked reaction in favour of General de Gaulle A report from Syria states that 1000 workmen at the aerodrome were arrested because they showed themselves unsympathetic with the Vichy decision. It is also stated that when French airmen went out from one aerodrome to attack British planes, they did not do so, but flew near them, waved to ■thc : pilots, and then : returned to the base. America’s Firm Stand Several French pilots, flying thenown machines, landed at a Palestine airport from Syria to join the Free French forces. It is reported from Washington that Mr Cordell Hull told the French Ambassador, ML Henry Haye, that there could be no satisfactory relations between France and peaceful nations until Vichy proves that it is net under German domination. Mr Hull said that all nations were satisfied that proHitler elements control the Vichy Government and that it is up to ■ the French to show that this impression is incorrect. M. Haye informed Mr Hull that France would resist any attempt to take over any part of her empire anywhere. He protested against the United States action in placing coastguards on French ships. M. Haye. in his interview with Mr Hull, claimed that, the terms of the armistice gi. e Germany the right to use the aerodromes in Syria. Mr Hull is reported to have disputed this claim. Conditions at Dakar Making what was taken to be a reference to Dakar, President Roosevelt, speaking at a press conference, said that the French West African ports should not be allowed to fall into the hands of the Nazis. An American who left Dakar three months ago states that the port is riddled with- Gestapo agents. This statement is supported by a press correspondent. who states that the Germans dominate Dakar.