ACTS OF TREACHERY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 July 1940, Page 6

ACTS OF TREACHERY

COMMITTED BY BORDEAUX GOVERNMENT Mr Churchill’s Denunciation RELEASE OF GERMAN AIR PRISONERS MANY OF THEM SHOT DOWN BY R.A.F. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, July -I. There were remarkable scenes of enthusiasm at the conclusion of the impressive and inspiring speech in which the Prime Minister (Mr Winston Churchill) revealed the measures taken to prevent the French Fleet falling into German hands. He said: “In spite of every kind of private and personal promise, an armistice was signed which was bound to place the French Fleet as effectively in the power of Germany and Italy as that portion of the French Fleet which was placed in Britain s power when many of them, being unable to reach French ports, came into Portsmouth and Plymouth about ten days ago, bu I must place on record that what might have been a moita injury was done us by the Bordeaux Government with the full knowledge of its consequences and dangers and after rejecting all our appeals, at a moment 'when they were abandoning the alliance and breaking the engagement which fortified it.’’

MALEVOLENT TREATMENT Mr Churchill referred to the handing over to Germany by the Bordeaux Government of over four hundred German air pilots, prisoners in France, many of them shot down by the R.A.F.. as another example of the callous and perhaps even malevolent treatment Britain had received, not from the French nation, who had never been and apparently never were to be consulted, but from the Bordeaux Government. “Such wrongful deeds will not, I am sure, be condoned by history," said Mr Churchill, “and I firmly believe a generation of French will arise who will clear the national honour of all countenance of them.” Referring to the boarding of French ships in British ports, Mr Churchill said the only instance of resistance was when a scuffle arose, through a misunderstanding, in the submarine Surcouf, in which one British seaman was killed and two British officers and one rating were wounded and one French officer killed and one wounded. Eight or nine hundred French sailors had expressed an ardent desire to continue the war. Referring to Alexandria. Mr Churchill said the anguish which the situation had caused might readily be imagined when he informed the House that only that morning, during an air raid on Alexandria, some French ships had fired heavily and effectively with the British against the common enemy. The Premier read to the House the terms which had been placed before the French admiral at Oran. His fleet was asked to comply with one of three alternatives: — (1) To sail with us and continue to fight against the enemy. (2) To sail with reduced crews, under British control, to a British port. (3) To sail the French ships to some French port in the West Indies, where they could be demilitarised, or perhaps entrusted to the United States. If these offers were refused within six hours, the admiral was requested to sink his ships, failing which whatever force was considered necessary to prevent the ships falling into German or Italian hands would be taken. ITALIAN PRUDENCE After describing the subsequent engagement, Mr Churchill said the Dunkerque would be out of action for many months. We had made plans for the reception of the Italian Navy, but it prudently kept out of the way. However, we trusted its turn would come during the operations we should pursue to secure an effectual command of the Mediterranean. The British Fleet was in all military respects intact and ready for further action.

“The action we have already taken should in itself be sufficient to dispose once and for all of all the lies and rumours suggesting that we have some intention of entering into negotiations with the German and Italian Governments,” said Mr Churchill. “We shall prosecute the war until the purpose for which we entered it has been fulfilled.” PROMISE TO SCUTTLE MADE BY THE BORDEAUX . GOVERNMENT. IBy Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day. 11.45 a.rn.) BERLIN. July 4. The German News Agency says the French Government informed the Armistice Commission that it would scuttle French warships if they were unable to escape capture. FIRST LORD BROADCASTS FORCES CONGRATULATED. (Received This Day. 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, July 4. The First Lord of the Admiralty

(Mr A. V. Alexander), broadcasting a tribute to Vice-Admiral Somerville’s forces, said the casualties were only one officer and one rating wounded and the crew of one plane missing.