FINESSE AT VICHY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1941, Page 6

FINESSE AT VICHY

UNDER NAZI DIRECTION TACTICS AGAINST UNITED ( STATES. EXTENSION OF DARLAN'S POWERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 12. The British United Press Vichy correspondent says Admiral Darlan, as Minister for National and Empire Defence, will have the ministers of Air, Navy and War serving under him. The Vichy News Agency announced that decrees are being issued today which are expected to increase Admiral Darlan’s powers, especially in the military sphere. Another report, from Vichy says the Government is expected to neither flatly reject nor completely accept the German proposals, and. according to the “Daily Telegraph's” Vichy correspondent, French officials are confident that nothing approaching a rupture between- America and France is in the air. It is believed in Washington that Germany has asked Vichy to delay the announcement of its decision on the German demands for bases in North Africa and French collaboration in the war against Russia until after the United States Congress finishes its consideration of the .Bill to extend the pericd of compulsory military service. The delay would be designed to avoid arousing the fears of Congress that the threat to America had increased, thus weakening the hand of the isolationists, upon whom Hitler depends to put a very strong brake -on any move by the United States towards direct involvement in the war. It goes without saying, however, that the United States is likely to abandon even the formality of friendly relations with Vichy, if the French accede to the German demands.

Americans will unquestionably follow President Roosevelt’s lead, in resisting the transfer of Dakar and other strategic points on the Atlantic to the Axis powers. The Vichy decisTSTi, whichever way it goes, will only serve to emphasise what Americans are beginning to realise, that it is not a question of the United States becoming involved in the war, through its own volition, but of the war creeping closer to the United States every day.

AMERICAN STUDY PROMISED BY MR HULL. WHEN SITUATION IS CLARIFIED. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 12. _ Asked whether the granting of military concessions to Germany in French Africa might bring a rupture of relations between the United States and Vichy, Mr Hull said the question would be studied when the. Vichy situation had been clarified, but he indicated unusual interest in the increased powers conferred upon Admiral Darlan and said the United States wishes to verify and see exactly the significance of these powers before commenting on the effect on Franco-American relations.