FRENCH UNITS WITH BRITISH

Southland Times, Issue 24162, 26 June 1940, Page 5

FRENCH UNITS WITH BRITISH

Ships Reported To

Be Absorbed

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 25, 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 24. Mr Charles Edison, United States Secretary of the Navy, at his final Press conference before his retirement, said that the navy had been informed that the British Navy had absorbed some units of the French Fleet, but there was no confirmation of this officially. The French Consul General in Sydney, M. Jean Tremoulet, commenting on the armistice terms last night urged Australians to withhold judgment of Marshal Petain and General Weygand. He declared that the people of the Commonwealth were not competent at this distance to criticize the French actions. He was quite in the dark about the future of the French Consulate here or the fate of French nationals. If any Frenchman in Australia desired to enlist with the Allies he had no power to prevent it. Neither was he anxious to remain in the Commonwealth at the Commonwealth expense. The French fleet, he understood, was under British orders and the French admirals probably would do what they were told to do. A statement on behalf of the Government claims that M. Georges Mandel is partly to blame for the “present British failure” to understand the armistice. It is alleged that M. Mandel tried to make Britain insist that France should continue the war at all costs. CRITICISM REGRETTED “We regret that certain members of the British Government should criticize us unjustly,” it stated. “We wish our English friends to respect our sadness and examine their own conscience." While France kept men aged 48 fighting, Britain had not mobilized men aged 28. The French Press delegation which went to Britain last March found the English unruffled and conducting a traditional form of warfare.

The Petain Government is negotiating with Herr Hitler for its return to Paris on the condition that a free zone is established to enable the Petain Government to function unhampered. The Government has ordered the observance of June 25 as a day of national mourning for France.

The British United Press correspondent at Bordeaux says it is officially announced that the French Government will depart. The German forces are remaining outside the city until the Government leaves.

French women in the United Kingdom and the French wives of Englishmen, representing 5000 women, jointly sent letters to the Prime Minister (Mr Winston Churchill) and General de Gaulle stating: “Our resolve is unshakable to work at all times and in all ways to help England to win the struggle. Many of us have already lost nearly everybody and everything we hold dear. We realize the ruthlessness of the war France has experienced and which will now fall on this country, which we consider our own. We wish to play our part.” It is authoritatively stated that although General de Gaulle enjoys the full confidence and support of the British Government Britain has not withdrawn diplomatic recognition from

the Petain Government. The terms of General de Gaulle’s broadcast last night were enunciated in full agreement with the British Government, which feels itself justified in giving an opportunity for the nucleus of an organization which will provide a rallying point for Frenchmen overseas.

FRENCH SUPPORT IN AUSTRALIA (Received June 26, 1.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 25. On behalf of the French people in Australia, more than 100 French citizens met in Sydney today and decided to send a cablegram to General de Gaulle stating that “without passing judgment on the decisions of the Bordeaux Government, the French people in Australia agree to place at your disposal themselves, their energy and resources to Continue the struggle to the end.” . v . A similar message is being sent to General Mittelhauser and other French overseas commanders. The French Consul, General Tremoulet, attended the meeting and reminded his countrymen that “history may prove that criticism of the French, Government was ill-deserved.”. MARSHAL PETAIN’S ROLE AS FASCIST (Received June 26, 1.30 a.m.) VANCOUVER, June 25. Professor F. H. Howard, an economist at the University of British Columbia, said- “I cannot help feeling that Marshal Petain is playing the same part in hanging France under fascism as Field Marshal Hindenberg played in Germany. He is now selling France from within, assisted by M. Laval, who is quite used to that role.”