1941-03-11 — Page 34

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THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 11, 1941.

CRUISER DETAINS FRENCH SHIP

Acrimony Shown In Statement By Havas Agency

Blockade Activity Creates Dispute

YUGOSLAV PACT WITH AXIS

The Yugoslav Foreign Minister, M. Cincar Mar- kovitch, is expected to

THE ALLEGED SEIZURE OF A FRENCH CARGO-SHIP CALLED VILLE DE MAJUNGA BY A BRITISH CRUISER WAS ANNOUNCED IN VICHY YESTERDAY.

This has led the French news agency, to declare that the remark about the defence of the French Empire, made in the communique issued after Sunday night's meeting between General Weygand, Admiral Darlan and other Ministers, also applied to communications between metropolitan France and the Empire.

leave Belgrade for Vien- U.S.WARNED

na at any moment to sign a friendship pact be- tween Yugoslavia and the Axis powers.

SOME REPORTS SAY

HE

SIGNED

HAS ALREADY LEFT, AND THE PACT MAY BE THIS EVENING.

Meanwhile, Yugoslavia tinues to call up troops. considerable scale,

con-

20

The Bulgarian newspapers daily are becoming more openly re- visionist in tone.

OF AXIS

ALLIANCE

The original communique stated that the defence of the Empire would "be energetically assured by the French forces alone against all aggressors."

IN THIS CONNECTION THE HAVAS AGENCY RECALLED THAT ADMIRAL DARLAN HAS REPEATEDLY DECLARED HE WOULD NOT ALLOW FRENCH! SHIPS ΤΟ BE SEIZED OR FRENCH PEOPLE DIE OF HUN- GER.

up and seize our cargo-ships, it would be necessary, in order to put an end to this, to have our ships escorted by warships."

If our protest should be in vain, the French news agency further "THE INTEGRAL COMING | reports Admiral Darian as saying. INTO PLAY OF THE TRI- "and if Britain continues to hold | PARTITE PACT" IS PREDICT- ED IN ROME AS A RESULT OF THE PASSING OF THE LEASE AND LEND BILL, WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN THE ITALIAN PRESS AS A "COLOSSAL MYS- TIFICATION" AND A "FLA- OF THE GRANT VIOLATION HAGUE CONVENTION."

"Gornale d'Italia" remarks it appears less than likely that war His statement, and Bulgarian material shipped from America will arrive in Europe in view of widely published in the Yugosla- | the intensification of the Axis

General Zhekoff, former Chief of the Bulgarian General Staff, Bald to Bulgarian students in Sofia yesterday: "We live in stirring times. after which will come realisation of tional ideals,"

our na.

press revisionist claims, were

vian press. Reuter.

AIR

ATTACKS ON MALTA

attacked

counter-blockade, ~

Reuter.

THREAT TO SINK U.S. SHIPS

{SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"]

Nazi authoritative quarters an- Three enemy forma-nounce that any American ships tions

under the Lease Malta carrying goods

und Lend Bill will be sunk the from different sides yes moment those ships pass into the terday afternoon, accord-blockude area.

The line embraces all waters

ing to an official com- around the British Isles. munique.

A formation of bombers came

it is further stated that the Ger- man blockade will be shortly in tensified by increases in the num-

French Protest

The French Government understood to have protested to Government the South African against the alleged stopping, south of Capetow, by a British cruiser

of the French cargo-ship Ville de Majunga.

This was reported by French news agency last night.

the

the

The protest is stated to Bay that such actions, far from the theatre of operations, are un. justified and can have no effect on the result of the war, The French ship was on way from Dakar to Madagascar, She is stated to be the fourteenth ship seized by the British Navy since the beginning of the year, and the 108th since the Armis- tice. Reuter-

CARGO REACHES MARSEILLES

of

The arrival at Marseilles the United States steamer Cold Harbour, carrying a cargo of food!

United States May Intercede

It is regarded in Washington as likely that the United States will intercede in the block- ode dispute between Britain and the Vichy Government, which is evidently viewed gravely in Washington.

How far the United States Government is

from prepared to go in seeking concessions Britain is a matter for conjecture.

President Roosevelt himself, it is recalled, was responsible for obtaining Britain's consent to the despatch of milk, clothing and medicines to unoccupied France. Reuter.

BRITISH OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON DISPUTE

ADMIRAL

in:

DARLAN'S statement Vichy yesterday that French warships would/ escort French cargo-ships if the British con- tinued their interference, was commented upon by a spokesman of the British Ministry of Economic Warfare.

He told Reuter's diplomatic correspon- dent: "Admiral Darlan stated he was still. hopeful of an understanding with Britain over this matter.

"We in this country have hoped and continue to hope that France will show understanding for our blockade polley.

ANTONESCU ALARMED

[SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"]

"If there were any means of helping

France unoccupied without helping Germany, the British Government' wiit

al- ways be prepared to consider them, but so far no proposals

A report from Budapest have been put forward. "It must be remembered that states that the Rumanian the French Government has Government is panicky accepted the principle of econo- mic cooperation with Germany.

over reports that ex-King Carol and Madame Lupes- cu intend to leave Lisbon "Admiral Darlan may be re- for the United States

Britain's Job

over the Island's south coast but bur of submarines, torpedy-bonts, and other necessities for French Sponsible for feeding, 40,000,000 where the ex-King will

did not relcase any bombs. Simultaneously, however, several Messerschmidt 110% attacked and machine-gunned 211 aeroplane

base.

Thio followed two alarms in the morning, when the enemy approached. Malta presumably

on reconnaissance, Following the midday raid the enemy approached the coast in the afternoon but was turned away without attacking.

and planes.--International News Service.

CURRIE IN 'FRISCO

CURRIE

MR LAUCHLIN PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S EMISSARY TO CHINA, ARRIV- ED IN SAN FRANCISCO EN There have now been over 400 ROUTE TO WASHINGTON YES- raids on Malta: - Reuter.

+

COUPONS FOR BEER

IS THE NEW IDEA

If a suggestion made by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Ralph Hewart is put into effect

Beer will be rationed like pe- trol;

Englishnien will have to pro- duce coupons, or permit cards →→→ obtained from the Post` Office before they can get their pint,

Lieutenant-Colonel Hewart was presiding at the annual meeting of the Public House Trust in Glasgow.

His suggestion covered not only beer, but all intoxicating liquor, "The supply should be restrict ed," he said, "to a fixed maxi-| mum quantity a day or a week, or for suld at one time."

TERDAY.

that

men.

1+

people in France. children and invalids,

Britain, how- was Kin nounced yesterday

ever, is fighting to free not 40,- make a lecture tour. by Admiral 000,000 people In France, but William Leahy,, U.S. Ambassador |

It is stated that the Antonescu many times that number of en- Government fears that ex-King in Vichy.

slaved people of Europe, includ- Carol may disclose political secrets. Admiral Leahy added

great national importance' another steamer--the Exmouthing those same 40,000,000 French-of

in "which may cause friction with a similar cargo, Was ex.

"The Germans may have re-Europe,' pected in three weeks.-Reuter.

leased two million quintals of General Antonescu, the report:

Rumanian wheat for France but this scarce-adds, has cabled the ly reflects any generosity since Minister in Washington to exert they are only returning a frac- his utmost efforts in order to pre- tion of the wheat they have loot- vent such lectures:-International ed in France in the last 10 News Service. months."-Reuter.

HEINKEL RUNS INTO TROUBLE

An Admiralty communique Mr. Currie declined to com-states: "A Heinkel 111 was hotly ment on his trip, saying "I am engaged and almost certainly de- saving my impressions for the stroyed on Saturday by H. M, President."

trawler Nadine,

that

He indicated, however, most of his time in Chungking was devoted to economic studies.

Reuter

EVACUATED MOTHER CAME BACK: KILLED

BRITISH ARMY TALKS TO NAZIS

Visibility was poor and tlie Heinkel was not actually seen to crash but was last seen on fre

Mr. Malcolm MacDonald; Min- The first broadcast in German and diving out of control to-ister of Health, broadcasting ap- from London by a British soldier wards the soa.

pealed to evacuatod mothers not to German soldiers was preceded!? to return to London with their by the playing of the march of children,

the British Grenadiers.

Having thus got the Germäng into a receptive mood the British spokesman, said:

No casualties were

sustained

ESTATE OF DUKE OF by Nading."Baitish Wireless.

NORTHUMBERLAND

Further grants of probate in

He told of a mother who left ADMIRAL ABRIAL IN London with her three children for the country. She grew impatient VICHY

and returned: On the day she ADMIRAL ABRIAL, GOVERNbrought the children back they respect of settled lands of a total | OR-GENERAL OF ALGERIA. were all killed by a bomb. valu eof £335,600 have been ARRIVED IN VICHY YESTER Mr. MacDonald said that despite issued in the estate of the ninth DAY AND WAS IMMEDIATELY "misfits and mistakes" the people Duke of Northumberland.

RECEIVED BY MARSHAL PE-of the reception areas were play The Dulte, who was 27, was a TAIN.

ing their part with unselfishness. lieutenant' in the Grenadier The visit follows that of Gener-In one civil defence region 200 Guards and died on active ser- at Weygand, who is, expected to large houses had been lent by vice last May. He left unsettled return to his post shortly. property already valued at Admiral Abrial commanded £1,446,489, making a total of French warshipa which assisted In £1,802,089 passing by his death, the embarkation at Dunkirk last

British Wireless,

summer-Reutër

owners or were requisitioned.

They were already occupied as hostels for large families, residen: tial nurseries for infants, sick bays or maternity homes.

"We shall give you facts, and not propaganda rubbish, such as that the English Channel at one point is only three miles wide, and that it is easy to cross by pontoon."

Another British soldier told the Germans that Marshal von Blom berg, Hitler's former war chief, was imprisoned' in Landsberg for- tress. The speaker added:

"Blomberg has been imprisoned because, in his opinion, German Iwaa: "not yet" ready?"for, war?