A NEW CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24915, 14 May 1942, Page 5

A NEW CRISIS

PRESSURE ON VICHY GERMAN DEMANDS ALL-OUT COLLABORATION LONDON, May 12. Reports from the French - frontier indicate that the relations between France and Germany are on the eye of a new crisis. The Germans are reported to have presented far-reach-ing demands under the threat of allowing Italy to occupy Tunis and Corsica, and possibly Nice. ' It is believed that the Germans are demanding all-out collaboration and the limitation of Anglo-American encroachment on French colonies. Coming straight from a meeting with Reich-marshal Goering at Moulins, M. Laval conferred with Marshal Petain, who cut short his holiday on the Riviera and hurried to Vichy in response to an urgent summons from M. Laval. The Daily Mail's correspondent on the French frontier says the Cabinet is exoected to meet to-morrow. There are signs that the meeting will mark the turning point in Franco-Gewnan relations. M, Laval's failure .to . carry out his duties as Herr Hitler’s jgckal has precipitated the crisis. Madagascar is the chief black mark against him. M. Laval has seen Admiral Darlan, the \Var Minister (General Bridoux) ►and the Navy Minister (Admiral Auphan). Therefore, there, is a possibility that the fleet and army in North Africa will figure in the crisis. The Daily Telegraph says it: is reported that Admiral Darlan arrived in Toulon yesterday, and that German naval staff members are also proceeding there. Army men conferred at General Rundstedt’s headquarters in Rouen. The Paris radio reports that Herr Hbydrich, chief of , the S.S._ Troops, conferred with Count de Brinon, the French police chief. The military governor of occupied France, General Stuelpnagel, issued a proclamation giving the Germans power to fix minimum hours of work for the French., and managers have been ordered ,to report , the number and categories of the. workers thus released. -L-..,;