THREAT TO GIBRALTAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 April 1941, Page 5

THREAT TO GIBRALTAR

REPORTED NAZI PRESSURE ON SPAIN PASSAGE FOR TROOPS SOUGHT ; IN EXCHANGE FOR FOOD & GUARANTEES. RUMOURS CURRENT IN VICHY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 21. It was unofficially reported in Vichy today that the Nazi deputy-leader, Herr Hess, flew Io Madrid recently with a personal, letter from Herr Hitler to General Franco jiro- • posing that six German divisions be given, a passage across Spain to Gibraltar in exchange for food and territorial guarantees. After conferring with General. Franco, Herr Hess returned to Berlin.

The Vichy correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says it is accepted in Government circles in Vichy that a German movement to Spain for action against Gibraltar is inevitable within a few weeks, possibly within days. The German Ambassador to Paris, Herr Abetz, is reported to be about to demand passage for German troops across unoccupied France to Spain.

The Geneva correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that 8000 Italians clad as civilians have gone to Germany in the last three nights, ostensibly to work in Germany, but it is believed that their destination is Spain.

The Basque delegation in London announced the formation of a Basque National Council. “We.are joining the democracies to fight the totalitarian Powers and to attain full national liberty for the Basques and international recognition for the Government formed at Guernica in 1936. General Franco subdued but never gained the souls of the Basques,” said a statement by the delegation.

REPORTS & DENIALS GERMANY AND THE VICHY GOVERNMENT. LONDON, April 21. According to recent dispatches _ to the New York Press, Herr Hitler has sent a message to Marshal Petain offering to resume collaboration with the Vichy Government, and it is suggested that the re-entry of M. Laval to the Government will be the condition of this collaboration. Another report states that Herr Hitler has offered to negotiate a final peace treaty with France if M. Laval returns to the Government.

These reports were denied in Berlin today. It' was stated that there had been no message to the effect reported, and that contact was being maintained by conversations between Admiral Darlan and the German Ambassador in Paris.

In an interview today General Weygand repeated his determination to use his army in northern Africa against any Power attempting invasion of French African possessions. He added that President Roosevelt’s devision to reopen the Red Sea to American shipping had created a new situation in North Africa.