RETURN TO ALGIERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1941, Page 5

RETURN TO ALGIERS

WEYGAND’S REPORTED ATTITUDE REFUSAL TO ATTACK FREE FRENCH MAINTENANCE OF STATUS QUO IN NORTH AFRICA. COLLABORATION WITH NAZIS OPPOSED. NEW YORK, June 7. The Berne correspondent of the “New York Times” reports that after three days of strenuous resistance, General Weygand returned to Algeria with power to take over the entire direction of French colonial foreign policy. “The Times” says General Weygand’s conditions were:— (1) An absolute guarantee of the status quo of French North Africa. (2) No military action by the Vichy forces against the de Gaullist faction or de Gaulle-held territory. (3) Whatever happens in Syria, that territory to be considered in no way connected with the defence of the French African Empire. Thus if General Dentz, the High Commissioner in Syria, opposes any British move he will do so without General Weygand’s support or consent. The American United Press reports that private advices have been received that General. Weygand blocked Vichy’s plans for outright military collaboration with Germany. It says France has no military supplies in North Africa to spare for an Axis offensive against Syria.

SERIOUS SPLIT WEYGAND & DARLAN. LONDON, June 7. A communique issued in Vichy after a meeting of the Cabinet yesterday said that the meeting was mainly concerned with questions affecting French Africa. It is learned that the military administrators in Tunis, French West > Africa, Morocco and Algiers attended. A serious split is reported between Admiral Darlan and General Weygand, who attacked Admiral Darlan for his cowardly and useless policy in Syria, says the "Daily Telegraph.” General Weygand apparently expressed strong resentment at the way in which Admiral Darlan countermanded his orders in North Africa. Admiral Darlan has , been working against General Weygand in North Africa .through a network of informants including two admirals. General Weygand is believed to have delayed his return to Africa because he disagreed with the policy of FrancoGerman collaboration. Admiral Darlan is reported to have declared that he is prepared to risk civil war in order to carry out this policy, but Marshal Petain is exercising a restraining influence. A message from Algiers says that General Weygand arrived there by plane from Vichy and immediately wont to his African defence headquarters. MANY PRISONERS TAKEN IN ABYSSINIA. LONDON. June 8. More than 4000 prisoners, including 3000 Europeans, have been taken by East and West African troops in recent fighting in Abyssinia. In the Jimma area the enemy has been repeatedly bombed and machine-gunned by the South African Air Force. A number of vehicles were destroyed.