NAZIS’ BROKEN PROMISES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21157, 5 July 1940, Page 7

NAZIS’ BROKEN PROMISES

I SUDDEN MOVE BY BRITAIN j ACTION AGAINST FLEET I (L'nlted Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) I LONDON, July 4 I A communique Issued by the Min- ' istry of Information this morning ! stated that the French Government, I relying on the promises of Germany I and Italy not to use her fleet against i France’s former Allies, had under - ' taken by the terms of the armistice to allow the French Fleet to pass | into the hands of the enemy. I The British Government, having I lost all faith in the promises made by the Governments of Germany j and Italy, felt that it should not only ; in its own interests, but also in the hope of restoring the independence ' of Fi ance and the integrity of the French Empire, take steps before it | was too late to ensure that the j French Fleet should not be used against them by the common enemy. With this object in view, steps were taken in the early morning of yesterday, July 3, to place all French men-of-war in British ports under British control. This operation was successfully carried out with only two casualties, which occurred owing to a misunderstanding. At the same time, the commanders of French vessels in ports of North Africa were offered certain conditions ! designed solely for the purpose of keeping them out of German hands. It was explained to the officer in command that if none of these conditions were accepted, Britain was prepared to take every step in order to ensure that none of these vessels should be used against her for the future prosecution of the war. His Majesty’s Government deeply regretted that the French admiral in command at Oran, Algeria, refused to accept any <r: the conditions, with the inevitable result that action had to be taken. The operations were still proceeding. French Admiral's Statement Vice-Admiral Muselier told a reporter in London to-day that no capital ships of the French Navy are in German or Italian hands. He added that a number of French warships have rallied to the British cause and that a number of submarines are in , British ports. Other vessels in the course of construction had been towed to British ports, where they will be completed. . The Admiral said he had resources, amounting to several million pounds, which would be sufficient to keep his forces going for several years.