MORE HELP FOR FREE FRANCE

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 7

MORE HELP FOR FREE FRANCE

General Catroux Now In London

REPORTS OF RIOTS IN CASABLANCA (British Official Wireless) (Received September 18, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 17. General Catroux, the former Governor of Indo-China, who has rallied to the cause of General Charles de Gaulle, stated tonight that the fact .that he was in London was the best proof that he fully adhered to the free France movement and to co-operation with Britain. “I address to all Frenchmen, wherever they are in the world, the most pressing appeal to join the movement,” he said. “Indo-China, the same as the entire French Empire, will be saved only by the resurrection of France and the victory of Britain. Each new proof of British resistance amplifies the movement in France and the French colonies towards all those who have at heart the cause of the free French forces.”

General Catroux, after referring to the negotiations with the Japanese, especially about the products of that country, said he was sure Indo-China fully understood that the maintenance of agreement with Britain was most necessary. That was why he took the decision to safeguard Indo-China, not in the name of the Petain Government but for France. ADVICE OF VALUE The Times says that General Catroux, who conferred with the military authorities after his arrival in London refused to obey the orders of the Vichy Government. He is determined to fight in co-operation with the Allies. His help and advice should be of the greatest value. He has spent almost his entire military career ip the French colonies.

The Tangier correspondent of The Times says that reports are reaching Algeciras, Ceuta and Tangier of many riots in Casablanca and elsewhere as a result of clashes between Vichy and de Gaulle supporters. There were many arrests. Spanish troops are being concentrated on the French Moroccan frontier as a precaution. It is believed in Lisbon that a French submarine manned by Germans was responsible for the torpedoing of the St. Agnes on Saturday, 600 miles west of Lisbon. The Exochorda rescued the crew of 13 British officers and 51 Indians, on whom the submarine fired 12 times after the crew took to the boats. There were np casualties. An Englishman interviewed on the French frontier after his escape from France said: “Anti-British feeling in occupied France has ' disappeared. Everyone is pinning his hopes on England. Many soldiers in unoccupied France significantly have not been demobilized and those demobilized have been allowed to take their equipment home. Britons of military age are confined to their homes. Many have been interned. A number of British soldiers are living hunted lives in the greatest misery trying to find means of escape from France. Unoccupied ..France is approaching starvation point. The Germans have removed the entire potato crops and all stocks of butter, soap and sugar, all of which are unobtainable. The Germans send lorries to Marseilles and remove cargoes from incoming ships.” The conclusion of a non-aggression pact between France and Thailand is announced in Vichy. It provides for the arbitration of Siamese claims to the Mekong river islands. France refused to consider the cession of other territories.

BALTIC GOLD HELD IN LONDON LONDON, September 17. The Soviet is insisting on the recognition of the Baltic States as part of the Soviet Union before negotiating a comprehensive trade pact with Britain. The Financial News points out that the problem revolves around the question of the release of gold belonging to the former Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian central banks impounded in London and the release of Estonian and Latvian ships now held in British, ports. It is understood that Lord Halifax, the Foreign Secretary, proposed to M. Ivan Maisky, the Russian Ambassador, that if the question of the sovereignty of the Baltic States were left in abeyance the value of the Baltic Shates’ gold and British claims against those countries could be regarded as cancelling out each other, while if the Soviet agreed to general trade talks an amicable arrangement could be reached about the detained ships. Negotiations are believed to be continuing, but the prospects of an early agreement are not considered rosy.