1941-03-27 — Page 39

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THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 27, 1941,

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

FRENCH CONVOYS

The passage of convoy- ed French ships through the Straits of Gibraltar is relatively unimportant.

It is when they seek to re- turn that the test will come. Plainly, this is the first tentative implemen- tation of the Darlan statement: "I will let nothing stand in the way of the French peo- ple's eating," when hel warned that the French fleet would be used to con- | voy ships past the British blockade.

They were brave words, but, unfortunately for the admiral, they had a hol- low ring. As recently as February 12, in Paris, "a reliably informed indivi- dual who formerly held an important position in the Vichy government"- Pierre Laval, in all pro- bability gave the show away to the United Press. He said that Vichy had been warned by Germany that it must use its co- lonies to the utmost to re-

SOMALI

POPOLATION

MORAL FOR HITLER

BERBERA

[The friendly population of British Somaliland contributed importantly to the demoralisa- tion of the Italians and the swift recapture of the Colony. It is significant for its promise of events in Europe in days to come.]

lieve shortages of food and NOT

raw materials in other

words, to break the block- EXACTLY

ade.by force, if necessary.

Clearly it is German IMPRESSIVE

pressure, and not French

stand.

hunger-except in so far The Swiss newspaper as that hunger has been "Bund” says that Yugo- purposely aggravated by slavia's adherence to the the Nazi regime that Axis Pact does not so has inspired Darlan's much mean her recogni- tion of the new European This is not to minimise order as official recogni- the gravity of the food tion of Yugoslavia by situation in France. Ra-states forming part of the tions have been cut, and new order. warnings have been

The "National Zeitung" sounded with increasing

says one can no longer help feeling frequency of late that a that the rush to join the Axis crisis is

exactly impressive at hand. But Pact is not

and is more the result of strate- there can be little doubt gic and geographic situation in any reasonable mind the states involved than an ex-

pression of honest enthusiasm

CALLS FOR MERCY FOR THE ITALIANS

HAILE SELASSIE'S famous proclamation to his people last July, appealing for mercy for the Italians, was published textually in London yesterday for the first time at the quest of members of Parliament.