FRENCH COLONIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1941, Page 5

FRENCH COLONIES

I HINTS OF POSSIBLE USE BY NAZIS IN RETURN FOR “CONCESSIONS.” GENERAL WEYGAND’S REPORTED PROTEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON. May 9. The Berlin correspondent of the Swiss newspaper “Basler Nachriehten ” says Wilhelmstrasse circles hint that the Vichy Government has agreed to the passage ol' German troops through French provincesand mandated territories, including Syria, as the price of German concessions to Vichy. Syria is reported to have been “placed at Germany’s disposal.” It is believed that Vichy has also agreed to take active steps against followers of General de Gaulle as a result of approval being given to the passage of German forces through all the Free French colonies. The diplomatic correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Telegraph” says that, in spite of protests from General Weygand. Admiral Darlan has allowed 200 German “experts” to land in French North Africa. The Germans recently applied for visas for these men to be attached to various groups under the Armistice Commission. The "experts" have proved to be German airmen' in civilian clothes. When General Weygand heard of their imminent arrival he protested to Admiral Darlan, stating that unless he

was given orders to the contrary, he would not allow the party to land. The first, batch was turned back, and then Admiral Darlan sent peremptory instructions to allow their entry. Most of the 200 have now arrived. It is assumed that their purpose is to seize French aerodromes. A Vichy message says that French police rounded up 800 refugees, mainly Jews, Czechs. Poles, and Yugoslavs, for assignment to the labour battalion in North Africa. Many had already received permits to leave France and had booked berths for America. According to information received by the independent French news agency (states an earlier message). Vichy’s concessions to Germany are mainly industrial, and include assistance in rearmouring German tanks and also in connection with submarine repairs. In regard to the rearmouring of tanks, it is stated that the Balkan campaign proved that the armour of the German tanks does not oiler sufficient resistance to Britain's new antitank weapons. It is also stated that in view of damage inflicted by the R.A.F. on submarine repair shops in Germany and in the occupied French and Dutch ports. Admiral Raeder wishes to transfer the shops to the interior—a plan in which French industry is expected to play an important part. ON CONDITIONS AMERICAN WHEAT FOR FRANCE. WASHINGTON. May 9. The French Ambassador,. M Haye.

said that the United States has agreed to supply unoccupied France with two shiploads of wheat a month as long as the present status of the Vichy Government is unchanged. Payment is to be made from France's frozen funds.