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Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1941, Page 5

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MAINTAINED BV VICHV NEWS OF CABINET DECISION WITHHELD. CONTRADICTORY REPORTS. LONDON. August 11. No communique has yet been issued on the outcome of this afternoon’s meeting of the Vichy Cabinet, presided over by Marshal Petain. The Lyons radio says a communique will be issued later this evening. It is not considered, another report states, that any important decision will be announced. General Wcygand has left by plane for Algiers. It is not clear whether he attended the Cabinet session or not. Some reports say he did and others say he did not. GERMAN DEMANDS ARGUED AND DEBATED FOR TWO DAYS. INTENT AMERICAN WATCH ON SITUATION. LONDON, August 10. With debasing results of subservience to Germany rapidly piling up, a tense atmosphere surrounds talks which are being held between Marshal Petain and his chief advisers. The'Vichy official spokesman denied reports that Vichy is about to conclude an offensive alliance with Germany ostensibly aimed at Russia, but most sources agree that Germany has made fresh and heavy demands for the use of African ports. The correspondent of “The Times” on the French frontier says that the developments cannot be examined too closely. Formulae might be found to enable Vichy to observe the dispositions under the armistice while making interesting counter-proposals to Germany. The German-inspired Press stresses the recent aggravation of Vichy's situation, especially with regard to the relations with Britain and America. The Vichy news agency claims that the tension has cased, but the utmost secrecy is maintained about the subjects of Marshal Petain’s talks. The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent, Mr E. B. Wareing, says the Germans h'ave demanded facilities at Dakar, Algiers. Casablanca and Bizerta, and the moment has almost arrived for Vichy to decide once and for all between friendship with Germany or America.

A Washington message says that according to the Associated Press of America, a break in diplomatic relations between the United States and Vichy is reported to be likely if it should become evident that the impending French decisions involve Germany’s obtaining the use of strategic bases on the African coast. The whole question of the interest of the Western Hemisphere in the French possessions is under intensive study in Washington.

For more than two days now Marshal Petain, Admiral Darlan, General Weygand, and others have argued and debated the German demands which Admiral Darlan brought back from Paris. A meeting of the Cabinet was fixed for yesterday, but it was postponed till tomorrow. One explanation given by a Vichy correspondent is that so far General Weygand has refused to ratify Admiral Darlan’s policy of military collaboration with Germany in North Africa.