FIGHTING FRANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1942, Page 4

FIGHTING FRANCE

ATTITUDE DECLARED. NO NEGOTIATIONS WITH VICHY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, November 16. General De Gaulle and the French National Committee announce that they are taking no part whatsoever in, and assuming no responsibility for, the .■negotiations in progress in North Africa with the representatives of V'ichy. Should these negotiations result in arrangements which in effect would confirm the Vichy, regime in North Africa, such decisions could obviously not be accepted by Fighting France. A union of all French territories overseas'in the. struggle for liberation should be achieved in conditions consonant with the will and dignit- of the French people.

“CLEAN BREAK” WITH VICHY GOVERNMENT. DECLARED RY DARLAN. (Received, This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 16. A4nfiraL..parlan has declared a - with the Vichy Government. He announced that he will form a great French colonial army to “take up the fight for liberty alongside our old ally, Britain, and our new ally, the United states.” He adds that he considers Marshal Petain a prisoner of war, and that he himself is thus completely independent. Admiral Darlan says that in his new project he will have the assistance of Generals Giraud, Nogues, Juin and Barre. ■ It is revealed in London that British diplomatic advisers have gone to North Africa in order to define Admiral Darlan’s position. The Vichy radio broadcast a declaration in the name of Marshal Petain, declaring Admiral Darlan dismissed from all public functions and military commands. A Vichy correspondent of the Ger-man-controlled Scandinavian News Agency states that MM. Chautemps, Flandin and Pucheu have escaped from Vichy France to participate in the formation of a new French Government in North Africa. M. Marcel Peyrouten, a former Vichy Minister for the Interior, has also escaped to North Africa. M. Chautemps is reported to have joined General- Giraud’s forces as a private and to have been sent to Washington on a special mission. M. Pucheu was a member of the Croix de Feu (the French Fascist organisation) and also was once Vichy Minister for the Interior.

Marshal Petain replied to Admiral Darlan’s proclamation saying: “Admiral Darlan dares to affirm that I am unable to make my thoughts known to the' French people. He claims to be acting on my behalf. When Africa was attacked, I entrusted Admiral Darlan with the defence of French sovereignty., In the very first engagement Admiral Darlan did not hesitate to make contact with the assailanrt. In giving a premature order to cease fire, Admiral Darlan ’ disorganised the resistance and shattered the morale of our troops. I several times confirmed to him by order to defend Africa. He disregarded it under the pretext of preventing the chief rebel and felon, Giraud, from usurping command of the troops. Admiral Darlan, therefore, has put himself outside the national community. I declared him bereft of all public office and military commands.”

Surprise has been caused in London by the announcement from Algiers that Admiral Darlan is to head the French North African Government. “The Times” diplomatic correspondent says: “Admiral Darlan’s 1 appointment will puzzle patriots resisting in all the Axis-controlled countries. It is felt in some quarters here that this trading with discredited men is extremely dangerous.” The “News-Chronicle” says: “The French people in particular will want to know something more about our dealings with Admiral Darlan. Many London observers believe that Marshal Petainjfully approves the Allies’ action in French North Africa. Marshal Petain’s disavowal of Admiral Darlan and his orddr to him to continue to fight the Allied forces is considered to have been given under compulsion from, Germany.”