GOING FORWARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1942, Page 4

GOING FORWARD

NEGOTIATIONS REGARDING MARTINIQUE AND OTHER WEST INDIAN QUESTIONS. DISCLOSURES BY MR HULL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 15. Mr Cordell Hull (Secretary of State) told the Press that the demobilisation of French warships at Martinique is going forward. In this manner they had, he said, settled the most important point at issue, but some military and economic questions still' remained unsettled. Mr Hull said that negotiations were continuing and that satisfactory progress was being made. These questions involved technicalities that might require some time to adjust. Mr Hull appeared to be -optimistic about these. He re-emphasised American determination not to deal with Laval about the Martinique issues. Asked whether a Note from Laval had been received, Mr Hull did not answer directly, but pointed out that he was giving attention only to the negotiations at Martinique. He said the proposals, which concerning 140,000 tons of shipping at Martinique, came more under the economic than the military phase, but explained that some military questions still remained unsettled. It was understood that these included the question of American bases in Martinique and Guadeloupe in order to prevent possible Axis use of these areas as submarine bases.