VICHY PROTESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1941, Page 5

VICHY PROTESTS

RECEIVED IN LONDON & WASHINGTON MR HULL’S POINTED COMMENT. SOME DIPLOMATIC DENIALS. LONDON, June 9. Notes from Vichy ; have been received in London and Washington protesting against the British action in Syria.‘The Note to Britain was handed to the British Ambassador in Madrid and is now under consideration in London. A Washington message says that the French Ambassador, M. Haye, expressed to the State Secretary, Mr Hull, the “indignation of the French people at the unjustified and unprovoked attack by the British on Syria.” Mr Hull is reported to have told M, Haye that .he was surprised at the failure of France to halt the German infiltration of Syria whereas they immediately took up arms against the British and Free French. M. Haye expressed the hope that the struggle would be only local, but remarked: “When you start firing guns, anything might happen.” He reiterated Vichy’s assurance that there were no German troops in Syria, and did not believe that there would be any break between the United States and Vichy. He denied reports of disagreement between Marshal Petain and General Weygand. An announcement from Vichy states that Admiral Darlan is to broadcast over all French radio stations tomorrow evening.

VIEW UNCHANGED INTIMATION IN WASHINGTON. LONDON, June 10. The Vichy Ambassador in Washington has been informed by the State Department that the United States Government advises it has no evidence to warrant a change in its critical view of the Franco-German collaboration. AMERICAN EQUIPMENT BEING USED LARGELY IN SYRIA. LONDON, June 10. It is announced in London that some of the most modern equipment which is now reaching the Middle East from. America is probably being used in the Syrian campaign. Convoy after convoy of mechanised equipment is rolling across the Sinai Desert through Palestine to the frontier. Americanbuilt aircraft are also active over Syria.