GETTING THE FACTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1941, Page 5

GETTING THE FACTS

INDICATIONS OF FRENCH SUBSERVIENCE TEXT OF MR HULL’S STATEMENT. REPORTED FRENCH POLICY ■ HARDLY BELIEVABLE. WASHINGTON, June 5. The statement by Mr Hull tonight on the policy of the Vichy Government was made at a Press conference. In response to inquiries the State Secretary said: “It seems scarcely believable that the French Government should adopt a policy of collaboration with the Axis Powers for the purpose of aggression and oppression. Such action would not only yield priceless rights and interests bey.jnd the requirements of the harsh terms' of the armistice, but would also place France in substantial political and military subservience.” If Vichy had so acted, as the official reports strongly indicated, it would be utterly inimical to the just rights of other countries as well as to the true interests and welfare of the French people, Mr Hull said. The United States was, therefore, undertaking as speedily as possible to assemble every material fact and circumstance calculated to shed light on the alleged course of the French Government. Mr Hull explained that it had been the policy of the United States Government to afford friendly and helpful cooperation with France, and the United States had assisted the French possessions. “We had assured Vichy that we had no other interest than preservation of the French territories for the French people,” he added.