NAZI DEMAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1941, Page 5

NAZI DEMAND

FOR TUNISIA, & FRENCH FLEET REPORTED ULTIMATUM TO VICHY. BACKED BY THREATS. (British Official Wireless.) LONDON, November 24. The Ankara correspondent of the “New York Times’’ says reliable sources state that Germany is issuing an ultimatum to Vichy to deliver the French fleet and Tunisia to Germany under a threat of occupation of more French territory and imprisonment of the French Government.

There has been a perceptible increase in German activities in French North Africa since General Weygand’s dismissal, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” Tangier correspondent. German police have already taken up duty at Casablanca.

The Madrid correspondent of the London '“Daily Mail” ; says General Weygand is virtually under house arrest. An officer is with him at Antibes, where he is “holidaying,” and gendarmes are also posted outside his villa. These are reported to be “protecting him” from indiscreet inquirers, but the real reason is to prevent Weygand from returning to Africa.

BETRAYAL PLAN FRENCH GENERAL WARNS PATRIOTS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 23. Free French headquarters announce that General Odic, who was appointed chief of staff of the French air force after the armistice, and who subseauently went to the United States, has now joined General de Gaulle. In a statement in Washington, in which he said that Vichy wished to hand over North Africa to the Germans, General Odic said: ‘ After the armistice I had hoped it would still be possible to follow Vichy’s policy with dignity. The maintenance of the empire’s integrity was the reason for the union of all Frenchmen, but if this, unity could be accepted under sufferance it could not be accepted in abjection. “Some men have tried, but through the intrigue and contemptuous indulgence of the victor I have often thought of regaining my freedom, yet I have still held by the hope of being able to preserve the integrity of North Africa. But today unity become an absurd fiction when it is used to destroy that which is its real aim - , tt- u “After the Syrian betrayal, Vichy now desires to hand over North Africa to the Germans. All our colonies in that region are threatened with German occupation, with the added humiliation that Frenchmen are asked to cooperate with' the Germans in their plans. “General Weygand has resigned. The time has come for everybody to decide. France must not be obliged one day to pay for Vichy's intrigues. France must not sit beside Germany on the bench of the accused. France must take her place among the judges. “That is what Frenchmen think today, but Vichy prefers civil war under protection of the enemy. Under those conditions passive disapproval is not enough. “French unity can be affirmed only through Free France. Under the command of General de Gaulle, I now resume the fight.”