ALLEGED SECRET AGREEMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 5

ALLEGED SECRET AGREEMENT

Churchill And Petain Understanding With Vichy By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) MONTREAL, May 29. Details of a secret agreement allegedly reached between Mr Churchill and Marshal Petain in 1940 are revealed by the book “Accords Between Churchill and Petain” by Professor Louis Rougier published with the approval of the Canadian censorship.

Professor Rougier declared that he acted as intermediary between Marshal Petain and Mr Churchill. The- book reproduces photostatic copies of telegrams and letters, also a memorandum with corrections in Mr Churchill’s handwriting. According to Professor Rougier, when the British attacked the French fleet on July 3, 1940, Laval hoped to force Marshal Petain to declare war against Britain. Professor Rougier thereupon went to London with a note of introduction from Marshal Petain. The permanent Foreign Undersecretary, Lord Cadogan, told Professor Rougier that Mr Churchill would see him only if he did not approach the de Gaulleites, to which Professor Rougier agreed. Professor Rougier subsequently met Mr Churchill. Later Mr William Strang, Foreign Office Counsellor, asked Professor Rougier to draw up a memorandum which would be regarded as a gentleman’s agreement. The memorandum listed the following main points: (1) Permission for French shipping to resume trade between France and North Africa.

(2) Britain would not act to separate the French colonies still under Vichy. (3) Britain took note of the Vichy colonies.

(4) The BBC would not attack Marshal Petain. On the other hand Vichy undertook: <1) To protect all the remaining territories against the Axis. (2) Not to cede the ports or ships to the Axis.

(3) To join Britain when the British were able to demonstrate their ability to land and re-equip the French forces.

Mr Churchill’s annotations to the memordandum included: “If Weygand raised the standard in North Africa he can count on the wholehearted collaboration of the Governments and peoples of the British Empire and a share of United States assistance.”

Professor Rougier says that both sides loyally observed the agreement until the Germans abrogated the Franco-German armistice when the Allies landed in North Africa and Marshal Petain’s status became that of prisoner.