FRENCH WARSHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1942, Page 3

FRENCH WARSHIPS

HELD AT ALEXANDRIA WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PASS TO ENEMY. BRITISH DETERMINATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, July 16. The British Government will in no circumstances allow the French warships at Alexandria to pass into enemy hands or control. This determination was emphasised in London after the Laval Government made a statement at Vichy disclosing its instructions to the French warships. . on the action to be taken if the British fleet evacuated Alexandria. The Vichy statement revealed that Admiral Godefroy was instructed never to allow his vessels to fall into foreign hands. His ships were in no circumstances to follow the British fleet in their withdrawal. He was to put to sea and if possible reach a French port. Failing this, he-, was to remain at Alexandria under the French flag, even should the Germans occupy the port. Ships were to defend themselves by all means in their power in the event of interference by the British. These orders were given to Admiral Godefroy on June 26, when Rommel’s drive first seriously menaced Alexandria. The Berlin radio declared that a United States Note to Vichy announced that the United States approved Britain's attitude regarding the French warships at Alexandria. The radio added that Laval said the warships had not sailed to France according to the armistice stipulations because they were blockaded by Britain; Germany and Italy had always respected the armistice stipulations regarding the French ships anchored in French harbours, and therefore the Government of France could not violate the armistice and accept the American proposals to take the ships into protective custody and hand them back after the war. If Britain destroyed the warships with United States approval, the United States would be obliged to bear the responsibility “for all the serious consequences.”