RELATIONS BROKEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1942, Page 4

RELATIONS BROKEN

$ —. — UNITED STATES & VICHY STATEMENT BY MR HULL. NO QUESTION MEANTIME OF WAR DECLARATION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day 11.25 a.m.) RUGBY November 9. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) formally announced that diplomatic relations with France had been severed, a Washington despatch states. Mr Hull said that for the time being the breach of relations does not involve any question of a declaration of war, He added that the passport of M. Henri Haye (Vichy Ambassador) had been sent to him at the French Embassy when he failed to make any appointment to visit the State Department. “IL is too early to discuss the question of an exchange of diplomatic personnel between Vichy and the United States,” said Mr Hull, but he indicated that it would be taken up shortly. Mr Hull said also that a message from the United States Charge D’Affaires, containing the Vichy notification of a severance of relationsjiad not contained any hint that Vichy intended to declare war. He believed, he added, that a great majority of the French people welcomed the United States intervention in North Africa. Mr Hull stated that negotiations with the local authorities for the demilitarisation of Martinique and other French possessions in the Western Hemisphere were not affected and were still proceeding. Another message states that Mr Hull, at a Press conference, disclosed that all the Vichy French ships in American ports had been taken into protective custody. Mr Hull said that information received indicated that the whole American offensive in North Africa was meeting with splendid success. He said the question of recognition of the Fighting French would be decided at the proper time, but at'< present the United States was primarily interested in the fighting and the military aspects of the war. It is announced that Mr Douglas MacArthur, a nephew of General MacArthur, is among the American officials stationed at Vichy. TRADE RESTRICTIONS APPLIED TO THE WHOLE ■ OF FRANCE. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, November 9. The Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Henry Morgenthau) announced that all France within Continental Europe had been declared enemy territory under the trading with the enemy restrictions. Formerly Unoccupied France was exempt from these restrictions. MARTINIQUE POSITION UNITED STATES READY TO ACT. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON. November 9. The United Press of America stated that an American occupation of Martinique could be expected to follow quickly if the French authorities attempted to hedge on the demobilising and economic agreement partially reached with the United States. If the Martinique authorities veer towards Vichy, American naval and military units are expected to deal promptly with the situation. ' PRELIMINARY STEP TOWARDS MUCH GREATER OPERATIONS. FRENCH PEOPLE FRIENDLY TO AMERICA. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 9. Mr Hull said the new operations were expected to assume even greater proportions. The present expedition was a preliminary step to an eventual campaign aimed at relieving all the enslaved people of Europe. Mr Hull emphatically expressed the opinion that the Vichy Government would be unable to use the African developments to turn the French people against America. Vichy had unsuccessfully tried its utmost to do so already, but 95 per cent of the French people were convinced that the Laval Government was Hitler’s most willing puppet. Instead of being influenced adversely, the French people would be, grateful for the United States’ action.