FREE FRANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 2

FREE FRANCE

GOVERNMENT DENOUNCED STAND IN FRENCH INDIA “ HITLER’S HORSE WHIP ” (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright, LONDON, Sept. 9 A message from Pondicherry says French India has rallied to General de Gaulle and has denounced the Vichy Government. Pondicherry is the chief town of several small settlements on the east coast of India which still remain under French rule. The territories have a total population of about 300.000. Describing the Vichy trial as having been deliberately engineered, General de Gaulle, in a broadcast, said the Vichy Government, acting under Hitler’s horse-whip and Mussolini’s lash, had the task of convincing the world that France was wrong to enter the war. To this so-called Government, people were criminals who believed that France was threatened or who thought that France should fight. “Although in the whole world,” General de Gaulle continued, “not a single person seriously doubts tha*. those responsible for the war are the dictators of Berlin and Rome, yet a monstrous trial has been started in France against Frenchmen who are being prosecuted for this offence. This is a truly magnificent achievement—magnificent, let me hasten to add, for the enemy.” One day. General de Gaulle said, without doubt there would be a real trial of the guilty party. There was every reason to believe that many of those now prosecuting would then be In the dock. At the request of Germany, the Petain Government is terminating French diplomatic representation in German-occupied countries. Demand by Nazis The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says it is reliably stated that Germany has formally demanded that the Vichy Government ship to the Reich 58 per cent, of the food and raw materials of unoccupied France; and, similarly, such products imported to France in future. It is believed the new French Ambassador, who is to endeavour to obtain food relief for France from the United States, will meet fresh obstacles, due to the foregoing. The State Department is also concerned that the French forces in Martinique shall remain in possession of the 130 American bombers on board the aircraft carrier there. Diplomatic efforts to repossess the bombers, made through America, have failed. Threat of Famine Dr. Joseph Stokes, junior, has returned to America after a six weeks’ tour of unoccupied France on behalf the Quaker Relief Organisation. He said the Germans were doing nothing to help the inhabitants of the unoccupied zones, which were threatened with famine. “The Germans could permit food to enter,” Dr. Stokes said, “but the fact that they are removing food to Germany shows that they need it themselves.” Council of Ministers The French Council of Ministers met for two hours yesterday. M Laval presided. Subjects discussed were substituteto replace imports and measures to absorb unemployed Frenchmen.