DARLAN’S PLAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1941, Page 5

DARLAN’S PLAN

SUPPORT FOR SEPARATE PEACE AND POLICY OF COLLABORATION WITH GERMANY. .) PETAIN SAID TO APPROVE. s iEy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) n LONDON. June 10. ? In his broadcast announcing that the Vichy Government was preparing a separate peace, Admiral Darlan said: ,j "Without waiting for the end of hostie lities we must create a favourable atmosphere for an honourable peace, and I appeal to the nation for its uqreservcd support for the policy of collaboraI tion with Germany in building a new I Europe with the purpose of preventing France from perishing. Germany has " agreed to negotiate, because she is planning a reconstruction of Europe „ which cannot be achieved without ” France and the other European States. "This situation is unprecedented. _ We are forced to negotiate with a country which is at war against our former ally, and which is occupying our soil. Frenchmen must follow Marshal Petain and be assured that the fate of France r is linked up with the fate of Europe. 3 This is still a time for discipline and 3 for union, not for sterile disputes and •• petty recrimination against the Govs ernment. 1 "If the nation does not understand, it will surely succumb. People are too 3 prone to regard as unquestionable 1 truths what a clandestine dissident radio, helped by a foreign Power, daily ’ repeats. ' "The signature of a definite peace re--1 mains difficult while great problems ; arising from the present conflict remain unsolved, but we must negotiate 1 with Germany if we wish to modify 1 the armistice. Marshal Petain has > charged me with the negotiations, and j approves of the developments.” I SINISTER INTRIGUE i FREE FRENCH EXPOSURE. TRANSFER OF U.S.A. PLANES TO NAZIS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. June 10. A document which throws interesting light on Admiral Darlan’s claim that his policy of “collaboration” is confined to the political and economic sphere has recently come into, the hands of the Free French Forces and is published by their newspaper “France.” It is a communication which was sent on March 26 to the French delegation on the Armistice Commission at Wiesbaden by the aviation sector of the German commission. Following are extracts from the text: “Some time ago the French Government acquired from the United States Government a large number of Douglas D. 8.7 fighter planes equipped with a bicycle under-carriage. The Officer Commanding the German air forces is very anxious to obtain machines of this type. “Up to now the French Government has rejected any suggestion that their planes be handed over, pointing out that the United States Government is aware of the proposals, and that to accede to them would lead to political complications. The German Armistice Commission would again emphasise its i desire for some agreement whereby ) planes of the particular model in ques- | tion might be handed over, and it is j prepared to offer in return certain maintenance. "As regards the French Government’s fear of possible complications owing to the United States Government’s hearing of the German Government’s proposals for taking delivery of these Douglas D. 8.7 machines, the German Armistice Commission is prepared, in order to avoid political difficulties for the French authorities, to make it known that this exchange is made under German pressure. “The German commission expects a reply at the earliest possible moment to this request. (Signed) Foerster.”