FRENCH EMPIRE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21369, 13 March 1941, Page 7

FRENCH EMPIRE

DEFENCE IN AFRICA RESISTANCE TO AXIS CONVOY MERCHANTMEN United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 11 Marshal Petain, Admiral Darlan and General Weygand have reached complete agreement on questions relating to defence in Africa, says the Vichy official news agency. Reliable sources believe that this included resistance to Axis demands regarding Bizerta. The German - controlled Paris radio, referring to Admiral Darlan’s threat to convoy merchantmen, declared that this is not a possibility, but a certainty. It is authoritatively stated in London that this latest example of German propaganda supports the view that Germany desires a clash between the British and French Fleets. Admiral Darlan’s voice is indistinguishable from Germany’s voice, not because he is necessarily antiBritish, but because he is not in a position to make an independent statement. It is recalled that Admiral Darlan in his last message to the fleet last summer as a free Frenchman said that later statements might be made under intolerable compulsion. Admiral Abrial, Governor of Algeria, has arrived in Vichy and conferred with Admiral Darlan. Under German Heel An article in the Economist demonstrates that so long as France is under the German heel, the resources ol French North Africa will inevitably be drained off, says a British official wireless message. “Nowhere is the inflationary effect of Germany’s policy of spoliation more apparent than in French industrial areas and the best agricultural land in occupied France,” it says. “A high percentage of all harvests for 1940 has been requisitioned —in the case of sugar beet the percentage was 100. “What is bought is paid for either in reichmarks or kashienmarks fixed at the entirely arbitrary rate of 20 francs to one mark, both currencies representing claims on German supplies which either do not exist or will never be made available.” In trade with her colonies in the past the balance between exports to and imports from France remained on the whole fairly steady when allowance was made for the extent of French investment in her Empire, the article- adds. The situation was radically altered by the French collapse. The whole basis of interchange of goods was destroyed, for France had nothing more to give them. Even industries in occupied France were working short time or not at all. Economic life in the regions accessible to the colonies—in unoccupied France—was barely functioning. Nevertheless goods continued to arrive at Marseilles from Africa. Old Balance Lost “The colonies cannot break off the trading habits of over a decade, especially when there is no obvious alternative market,” the article adds. “Yet there is this great difference. The old balance between imports and exports is lost. For the first time goods arriving at Marseilles far exceed cargoes leaving that port. “Moreover, there is strong evidence to show that the Germans take a sizable percentage of any supplies reaching Marseilles. In other words, trade between France and her colonies is conforming to the general pattern of German Europe. The French colonies are sending foodstuffs, wine, meat, fats, vegetable oils, phosphates and other materials to France. “Of these the major part finds its way either to the markets or the reserve store of the Reich. Little is left for France, but in either case the problem of payment is shelved. In return for steady draining away of all economic resources, the only payment takes the form of mounting franc balances in unoccupied France.” Nazis’ Eyes on Tunisia Broadcasting from London, Mr Vernon Bartlett. M.P., said he was not so sure that the Germans in Tripolitania were there to stem the British thrust from the east. He suggested that Germany’s eyes were turned to the west, toward Tunisia, to get further concessions from Admiral Darlan in France's North African Empire. “The French African colonies will make headline news in the next week or two,” added Mr Bartlett. FRANCE AND GERMANY CONVOY OF MERCHANTMEN INFILTRATION IN AFRICA DAVENTRY, March 12 The statements of Admiral Darlan in regard to the convoying of French merchant ships is being examined in London. It has been learned that a number of French firms are fulfilling orders for the German High Command. Free French headquarters state that the infiltration of Germans into French North Africa is steadily inci easing. It is also reported that Germany is obtaining certain supplies from this territory, but it is denied in Fiance that bases in Morocco have been leased to Germany. WARFARE AT SEA BRITAIN HOLDING OWN United Press Assn. Klee. Tel. »:«»!•;.right - LONDON. March 12 Since the outbreak of the war Germany has lost over 3.000.000 tons of . merchant shipping. British, Allied and neutral losses total 4.800.000 f ton.'. Two-thirds of these losses, how- j ever, have been replaced. Naval circles*in London state that it ; can be fairly claimed that Britain is i holding her own hi the war at sea.