NAZI RAPACITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1941, Page 6

NAZI RAPACITY

MORE DEMANDS MADE ON FRANCE S l -1A MEF U L CONCESSIONS BY DARLAN. VICHY STILL OFFERING SOME RESISTANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 15. Two conditions Admiral Darlan accepted at Berchtesgaden are revealed by "The Times" French frontier correspondent. The firsc is that in return for free trading between occupied and unoccupied France he agreed that Germany should control France’s exports, for which the Franco-Swiss frontier is closed, except at Bellegarde, where German Customs officials have been installed, as they have been on the Franco-Spanish frontier and in French seaports, including Marseilles. Germany is thus able to enforce the delivery of French exports where the proceeds could be utilised to import through France what Germany wants, regardless of French interests. Secondly, in return for a reduction, in the charges for the German occupation, Admiral Darlan agreed that the payments should be in gold or foreign currencies, involving the liquidation in Germany’s favour of all French foreign assets, consisting of shares, loans, credit balances and partnerships in buildings and land. The Vichy Government, however, has not endorsed Admiral Darlan’s second commitment, for which reason Germany now says it will be necessary to release the unexpended balances of the occupation charges. These, to the end of February, amounted to 63.000 million francs and they have since grown. If Germany carries out her threat, the resulant inflation will plunge France into the deepest economic misery.