1940-06-26 — Page 6

;

THE

FRENCH

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 26, 1940

FLEET

Position Not Yet Clear: Lords' Statement

British Supremacy

In Middle East

London, To-day. A STATEMENT SIMILAR to that of Mr. Churchill in the Commons was made yesterday by Lord Caldecote, leader of the House of Lords, in which he emphasised that in both the occupied and un- occupied regions of France "Marshal Petain and his colleagues are held tight in the grip of the enemy: the real governors of France are to be found in Berlin and not Paris."

Britain's formal relations with the Government of France were now bound to be very difficult and actually full of danger.

In fact, it might prove actually im-, possible, save with the consent of Germany, that any such relations should exist at all.

"With sorrow I am afraid it must be recognised that the French sub- mission has made the severance of formal relations between France and Great Britain for the time be- ing almost Inevitable,

"But I am empowered to give an assurance that if there are any con- tacts which can be maintained, His Majesty's Government will lose opportunity."

The French Fleet

ΠΟ

French

Discussing the fate of the Fleet, Lord Caldecote said no one would be unaware of the powerful aid which the fleet could bring either to Germany or to Great Britain.

"Our defences would indeed in part depend upon ships which had until quite lately been operating in the Mediterranean with the Royal Navy.

"It would be more than a mis- fortune and a cause for shame If the forces so lately used In the service of the Allies were to be

BORDER CLASH DENIAL

Bucharest, To-day.

An official denial is issued by the Rader agency of rumours cur- rent abroad to the effect that en- counters between Soviet and Ru- manlan troops occurred on the River Dniester frontier.-Reuter.

Survivors of a fishing vessel being landed from H.M. Submarine, Unity, after six days in an open boat in the North Sea. (Copyright, Fox).

MR. CHURCHILL ON POSITION OF

THE FRENCH FLEET

London, To-day.

DEFINITION OF PORTABLE RADIO SET

"A portable radio set is one which transferred to the enemles of IN THE COURSE OF HIS STATEMENT in the House of is movable from place to place, operat- Commons yesterday, Mr. Winston Churchill said: "It ing on its own power and without an aerial," stated Mr. D. W. Waterton, was clear to the French Government that the British of the Wireless Department, in the Government were resolved to continue the war and al-Kowloon Court this morning, when together cut themselves out of any association with any enquiry about an armistice.

France and ourselves." Concluding, Lord Caldecote hoped the French Empire in many parts of the world would see a continuation of the struggle.

The Lackey

He declared the superior initiative and skill of our troops in the Middle East "have established in that part of the fleld a definite supremacy over the lackey of Germany.

"The feat of a trawler with a 4- inch gun in subduing an Italian sub- marine may be regarded as of that supremacy,"-Reuter.

typical

Efforts Continuing Lord Caldecote said though he could not say anything regarding the future course of the French Fleet question, Their Lordships could rest that the Prime Minister would

Mr. J. M. L. Gutterres, of No. 505, Sun

Sun Hotel, was summoned for posses- sion, without a licence, of a radio re-

ceiving set.

Gutterres said that he had a licence

The same evening I was preparing to go to see M. Reynaud

and was, in fact, in the train when I received informa- for a radio set at a different address. tion he had been overthrown and a new Government He was under the impression that the under Marshal Petain had been formed, which Govern-set was a portable one and that the ment had been formed for the prime purpose of seek- he used in the Hotel.

same licence covered the set which ing an armistice with Germany.

In these circumstances we natural-ing French interests in the Colonial ly did everything in our power to Empire, shall be collected in ports to secure proper arrangements for the be specified there to be demobilised disposition of the French fleet. We and disarmed under German and reminded the new government that a Italian control.

condition indispensible to their re- lease had not been complied with, the condition being the fleet should sent to British ports. assured

be

no

I think it would have made re-

there was plenty of time to do it difference to the negotiations

lax no effort to secure that those ships should continue to serve the cause

From this text it is clear the French

war vessels under the armistice pass into German and Italian control fully armed.

We note of course in the same ar- and German Government that they have no for ticle the solemn declaration of the

the Hotel was not portable, It was Mr. Waterton replied that the set in

attached to an aerial.

Gutterres was fined $8,

expressly provide for further German claims when peace between Germany and France comes to be signed,

Lamentable

for which they had been employed the terms would hardly have been intention of using them for their own lamentable but also memorable col-

for so many months. One day France would be again be beside Britain in action. In that assurance, there was comfort and confidence. British wares less.

REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES

London, To-day. The German radio announces that a commission appointed by Dr. Seyss- quart, Governor of Holland, has left the Netherlands. for France to organisé the repatriation of Dutch and Belgian refugees in the quickest possible man- ner Reuter.

more severe than they were.

In order to enforce the earnestness with which we held our view we sent the First Lord and the First Sea Lord as well as Lord Lloyd to establish what contacts were possible with the new Ministers.

purposes during the war.

What Is The Value?

But what is the value of that? Ask half a dozen countries. What is the value of such a solemn assurance by the German Government?

But everything was of course mov- ing into collapse at that time. Many Furthermore, the same Article 8 ex- solemn, assurances were given that cepts from the operation of such as- the fleet would never be allowed to surance and solemn declarations those fall into German hands.

Article Eight

units necessary for const surveillance and mine sweeping. Under this pro- viafon it would be possible for the Ger-, It was therefore with grief and man Government fo reserve ostensibly amazement that I read Article 8 for coast surveillance any existing of the armistice terms. This article, units of the French fleet. to which the French Government has Finally the armistice can at subscribed, says the French fleet, ex-time be voided on any pretext of non- cepting part left free for safeguard-observance, and the terms of armistice

any

Such are the salient points in this

lapse of which no doubt a much full- er account will be given by history.

The House will naturally not ex. pect me to say anything about the future. The situation at the present time is so uncertain and obscure It would be contrary to the public In- terest to attempt to pronounce 'upon It."

.

Holding out the expectation of a further statement next week, Mr. Churchill concluded: "In the mean- time I hope the House will continue to extend their full confidence to the. Government and will belleve that neither patience nor resolution will be lacking in measures they may take for the safety of the Empire."-British Wireless.