EXPOSED AS BOGUS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1941, Page 6

EXPOSED AS BOGUS

COMPLAINT BY ADMIRAL , DARLAN EFFECT OF THE BLOCKADE ON FRANCE. GREAT INDULGENCE SHOWN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. April 3., Admiral Darlan's attempt to cast the responsibility upon Britain for the food shortage in France by representing that French shipping is harshly treated by Britain is revealed in its true light by a close examination of the position, which shows that indulgence has throughout been displayed and. that in this field. French and German collaboration is being pursued with more regard for German military needs than for those of French civilians. German interest in the use of the French mercantile marine is becoming increasingly apparent, and is made clear by the fact that several of the ships now trading for Vichy were at the time of the German-French armistice caught in German-controlled ports and subsequently released by the Germans.

It is authoritatively stated that, as a result of French action at the armistice, Britain was deprived of nearly 250,000 tons of British and Allied shipping on charter, which was wrongfully detained in French ports. This was the tonnage, which, when France was still Britain's ally, was allocated, at great sacrifice to Britain, to compensate for French shipping difficulties.

Great tolerance has since been employed toward Vichy. For example, there has been no interference with trade from French North Africa to Marseilles, which has increased daily, though it is known that in the period November 18 to December 8. 68 vessels arrived from Algeria and Tunisia, and that most of the foodstuffs arriving, even in unoccupied France, arc promptly requisitioned by the Germans.

Thus even pro-Vichy merchant officers admit that 60 per cent, of ground nuts arriving in Marseilles from Dakar fall into German hands, thus making good Germany's serious deficiency in this vital war material.

Also as evidence that Vichy ships carry war materials, undoubtedly intended for Germans, are the cases of the following ships intercepted by the Royal Navy: Sontay, carrying 409 tons of rubber from Ind'o-China; Chantilly, carrying rubber; Charles Plumier. carrying groundnuts; Sally Maersk, carrying cargo for Italy.

Since October, the British Navy has intercepted in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans more than 100.000 tons of Vichy shipping, the groat majority of which has been brought into British service. These seizures are justified, not only because the ships carry war materials for Britain’s enemies, but also as retaliation for the continued detention of British and Allied shipping by Vichy in obedience to Axis armistice commissions.

The argument that Franco desperately needs these ships to ward off starvation is invalidated by the fact that many of them sail half empty, and others carry cargoes of inessential or luxury goods, which British people now do without. It is recalled that when Britain last. July requisitioned French ships in British ports they gave both publicly and in a Nolo Io Vichy a pledge to restore,the ships to their owners in France after the war with compensation for use. They repeated the same pledge ox gratia for ships subsequently seized. This accords with Mr .Churchill’s stated aim of restoring the greatness of France after the war. It is also believed to be welcomed by the owners, as ensuring them assets in sterling outside the German Reich.