FRANCO YIELDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1941, Page 5

FRANCO YIELDS

RIGHT OF PASSAGE GIVEN TO NAZIS ACCORDING TO BRITISH CORRESPONDENT. INTRIGUES IN FRANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 11. A correspondent of "The Times" on the French frontier says private reports indicate that M? Pietri, the French Ambassador to Madrid, called on Marshal Petain at Vichy and notified him that the Spanish Prime Minister, General Franco, has given Germany a written permit to march across Spain to Gibraltar. The date is left to Herr Hitler's discretion, but the second half of this month is envisaged. According to these reports. General Franco declared that he was unable any longer to resist the pressure from Berlin, especially as Germany undertook to supply ample food to Spain. Though the fact has only now been disclosed to Marshal Petain, it is stated, General Franco gave Herr Hitler the permit some time ago, and the document has been used in Paris as the basis for the negotiations between Admiral Darlan, M. Laval, and Herr Abetz, culminating in the publication in the French Press of Germany’s consent to reduce occupation charges and also to partially erase the demarcation line between occupied and unoccupied France. The price to which Admiral Darlan and M. Laval agreed, subject to Marshal Petain’s consent, was aerodromes, but nothing else, for Germany’s use in Syria, and the use of certain French railway lines to Spain for transporting German troops to Gibraltar. Admiral Darlan immediately had "banner-lines” put up in the French Press with the object of generating a tremendous popular wave of hope among the French masses and confronting Marshal Petain with a fait accompli—Admiral Darlan calculating that Marshal Petain would fear keenly the consequences of disappointing the masses by rejecting the Darlan-Laval proposals.

Confronted with General Franco’s signature. Admiral Darlan asserts, he could not refuse the German demand, especially as Germany had promised, in addition, that at the final peace settlement France would not be asked to make territorial concessions to Italy, and, as compensation for the loss of Alsace-Lorraine, would receive other French-speaking territories elsewhere —adjacent to the pre-war French frontiers —in the whole scheme of establishing the new European order. No word of this agreement has yet been published in the German Press, as Marshal Petain's endorsement is awaited, but France’s exit from the League of Nations indicates that Admiral Darlan prepared the coup long ago, because that step legally terminates the Syrian mandate.

Marshal Petain is expected to refuse point-blank to accept the transaction, because it would mean a clear violation of the armistice terms.

DAKAR WARNING ISSUED IN UNOCCUPIED FRANCE. ADMIRAL LEAHY SEEKING EXPLANATION. (Received This Dav. 9.20 a.m.) VICHY, May 12. ■ The American Ambassador, Admiral Leahy, is understood to have requested an appointment with Marshal Petain in! connection with the Paris press campaign against America, and also a! warning to Washington to keep its! hands off Dakar. Admiral Leahy is expected to ask Marshal Petain to clarify’ the Dakar warning, issued in Paris but’ not published in unoccupied France. *