VICHY & NAZIS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 March 1941, Page 5

VICHY & NAZIS

REPORTS OF NEW CRISIS MANY MEETINGS HELD. CONDITIONS IN NORTH AFRICA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONIJON. March 8. “The Times” correspondent on the French frontier says that General Weygand’s arrival at Vichy from North Africa coincides with a new crisis in French and -German relations. A Berlin message has stated that unless M. Laval were reinstated, Franco-Ger-man collaboration would be ended. Vichy insists that M. Laval has consented to put Marseilles, Toulon and Bizerta at the disposal of the Italian and German fleets. Admiral Darlan has returned to Vichy from Paris and conferred with Generals Petain and Weygand. He later presided at a Cabinet meeting. General Weygand opposed attempts to break the British blockade, declaring that this would serve as a pretext for Italians and Germans to enter North Africa. General Weygand will return to Africa tomorrow.

German dissatisfaction with the policy of the Vichy Government led by Admiral Darlan continues to be expressed .in newspapers and broadcasts. Officials in Berlin brush aside Admiral Darlan’s conciliatory suggestions and say that the policy of collaboration is not there so long as Vichy will no.t reinstate M. Laval. Radio Paris today gave Admiral Darlan a better recognition of his effort, saying that he was trying to bring about collaboration in home policy, but.- it said that collaboration should not be confined to economic matters. General Huntziger," the War Minister, issued a decree retiring 34 French generals who held command before the surrender of France.

An earlier message stated that conditions in French'North Africa were discussed at length in Vichy by Marshal Petain and General Weygand. The correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that General Weygand is believed to have given an account of his efforts to keep the empire together despite restlessness in the army, caused by successes by the Free French forces against the Italians. It is understood that General Weygand warned Marshal Petain that the position in French Africa might change radically if the Axis attempted to increase the present German aid to Italy in Libya or if Libya collapsed and the British reached the border of French Tunisia.

General Weygands visit to Vichy is his first since he went to Africa six months ago.

The Havlis news agency says that Press censorship in unoccupied France will shortly be abolished. Newspapers will be allowed full latitude to print the news as received and to comment on happenings. The Government will still exercise control of the Press, but only after publication and should the need arise.