FOOD FOR FRANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1941, Page 5

FOOD FOR FRANCE

PASSAGE THROUGH BRITISH BLOCKADE VICHY URGING AMERICAN INTERVENTION. BERLIN BEHIND DARLAN'S APPEAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, March 13. Press and radio comment in Vichy today urged the United States Government to put forward proposals which would enable food for unoccupied France to pass through the British blockade. The Vichy Government issued a statement expressing satisfaction with results obtained from its effort to relax me blockade, and referred to the intervention of Mr William Bullitt, former United States Ambassador to France. One Vichy newspaper says that the friendship between the United States and Britain should help mediation with a view to bringing about a relaxation of the British blockade. Other newspapers admit that a formula will have to be worked out so that any food supplies allowed would not help the Germans. “Le Journal" says Britain could hardly dismiss without study proposals containing possible guarantees about the distribution of foodstuffs imported into France. Hundreds of children carrying the French flag and the Stars and Stripes welcomed the American ship which arrived at Marseilles carrying supplies that had been permitted to pass through the British blockade. Comments by the German-inspired Press in Paris supports the view that Berlin is behind Admiral Darlan's appeal, but it also shows that Berlin is hoping for a clash between French and British warships. A broadcast from Radio Paris said: “We are putting before Britain the choice of war or peace with France.”