FRENCH ARE PAINED

Southland Times, Issue 24440, 21 May 1941, Page 5

FRENCH ARE PAINED

VICHY BETRAYAL OF SYRIA TROOPS IN TERRITORY (Rec. 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. Vichy’s permission for the Germans to use the Syrian aerodromes has caused a most painful impression among the French troops in Syria, says the Cairo correspondent of The Times. The High Commissioner, General Dentz, had no alternative except to carry out Vichy’s orders, if he did not wish to resign, but the officers and men of his army are disgusted at the latest truckling to the German demands. The French air staff was withdrawn from Palmyra aerodrome, leaving it at the disposal of the Germans. It is not believed in Cairo that a large number of German planes has arrived in Iraq. 1 The Jerusalem correspondent of The Times says Vichy’s readiness to sell the independence of the French mandated territories in the Middle East has caused consternation in Syria and Lebanon, where there is great apprehension lest the country become a battleground. The public has not been informed of Britain’s announcement that she is taking measures against the German airmen in Syria, but the news was picked up secretly and quickly passed on.

WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says that according to reliable reports the main French forces on the Syrian frontier have been withdrawn. Syrian, Palestinian and Moroccan troops, however, are continuing to patrol the frontier. Civilian residents have been evacuated from villages near the border. The Beirut correspondent of The Daily Express says that French antiaircraft defences on Sunday fired on British planes bombing Rayak airfield. The planes were not hit. It is reported from Nicosia that the British Intelligence Service in the Middle East has for some time been fully aware of the German plans to use Syrian air bases and countermeasures have been prepared. So far it is not clear how the Syrians will react to Vichy’s handing over of thenterritory to the Germans. General Dentz has recently had a difficult time with bread riots and desertions to General de Gaulle and also with the growth of the Pan-Arab movement in the byways of Damascus. RELEASE OF PRISONERS It is officially announced in Vichy that Germany has agreed to release immediately 100,000 French soldiers, those prisoners of war who fought in the last war. This is regarded in London as the first visible result of the German-French negotiations. It will be noted that Germany is keeping the youngest soldiers. The Daily Express says that a joint French and German announcement is expected in a few days as a result of the latest talks between the VicePremier, Admiral Jean Darlan, and the Axis leaders. This, however, is likely to uncover only the more innocuous parts of any new agreement. Full accord is reported to have been reached on the following terms.

(1) Mussolini will abandon claims to Nice and Savoy.

(2) Hitler in return will present Croatia to Mussolini.

(3) Admiral Darlan will admit Mussolini’s title to the French colonies of Tunis and Corsica.

(4) Admiral Darlan will collaborate fully with Germany. The French and German collaboration which has already been exposed in Syria will be extended as circumstances dictate.

According to a despatch from Istanbul to the Nichi-Nichi Shimbun Turkey has given tacit consent to all German requests, including permission for Nazi troops to cross Turkish territory into Iraq. Three Nazi ships loaded with explosives and arms have already left Constanza for Samsun, the Turkish port on the Black Sea, whence the cargoes will be shipped through Turkey to Iraq. It is understood that a Nazi force numbering approximately 10,000 men will soon arrive at Samsun to aid the Iraqis.