DARK PROSPECT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1941, Page 5

DARK PROSPECT

OPENED IN FRANCE DARLAN IN POSITION / TO SATISFY NAZIS. CONSPIRACY IN THE AIR. (Ey Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 13. The coiTespondent of “The Times” on Ihe French frontier says that Admiral Darlan has obtained nominal power sufficient to satisfy all the German military demands without even securing the endorsement of his Cabinet. There are profound misgivings that Vichy’s next slop will probably provoke an international crisis of the very first magnitude. The French people, he says, would rejoice if the United States recognised General de GauUc. It is assumed here that Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt have agreed to joint action should Admiral Darlan complete France's betrayal. Active military co-operation betw-een Vichy and Berlin, commentators in London agree, would leave all France to be dealt with by Britain, with millions of Frenchmen grateful and not afraid in spite of the consequent loss of French lives. .

The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says that Marshal Petain and his colleagues are creating a police State based on foreign bayonets to suppress the critics of further betrayals and protect themselves against a popular upheaval. The “Daily Telegraph's” correspondent, Mr E. B. Wareing, says travellers reveal that conspiracy is in the air in France. Furtive talks proceed in cafes in Marseilles, and at least every night three are raided by the police. Occupied France and unoccupied France have almost become different countries; the northerners do not share the hopelessness of many of the southerners. France has become very like Italy, with a new hooligan party embodying ideals which the public does not share.

BREAK IN RELATIONS

ANTICIPATED AMERICAN ACTION. DARLAN & WEYGAND SAID TO HAVE CLASHED. LONDON, August 14. Sources in Washington state the opinion that America can be expected to break off diplomatic relations with Vichy very shortly. It is possible that Canada will take the French islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon into protective custody and hand the Vichy Minister his passport. Private advices to the “New York Times” suggest that a serious clash of authority between Admiral Darlan and General Weygand has occurred within the last 48 hours over Admiral Darlan’s assumption of personal control and protection of the naval and air bases within the French Empire. However, the feeling in Washington is that Admiral Darlan will not surrender the French Fleet with the remainder of the colonics. An important repercussion in America to the Vichy betrayal is a speed-up in the negotiations by Washington for naval and air bases in Brazil.

Washington reports that the United States is likely to adopt a new and mere vigorous policy toward Vichy as a result of Marshal Petain’s speech. The first step would be a cut-off of cil from General Weygand. The “New York Tribune" says that if Admiral Darlan has not actually handed. Dakar, Casablanca, Bizcrta, and surviving ships of the French navy over to the Germans, one can feel safe in assuming that he may do so at any moment. The Rome correspondent of the Swiss newspaper “Tribune de Geneve” says that France’s re-entry into the war on the side of the Axis Powers is almost inevitable. I

FRENCH SHIPS (

INCLUDING THE NORMANDIE. ' LIKELY TO BE 'REQUISITIONED IN U.S.A. (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 14. ' It is expected that the IZarltime Commission will shortly requisition French ships tied up in American ports, as a first move indicating the attitude of the United States towards France’s new alignment with Germany, says the “Journal of Commerce.” Eleven French shins, including the luxury liner Normandie, are tied up in various United States ports.