THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 16, 1941.
STRAIN ON RELATIONS WITH VICHY Effect of Syrian Development Hard To Foresee
Free Hand Given
To Gen.
Wavell
(By Reuter's Diplomatic Correspondent)
WITH ACCEPTANCE BY THE VICHY GOVERNMENT OF. THE GERMAN TERMS FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING, THE SPOTLIGHT OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS HAS SUDDENLY, SWITCHED ON TO SYRIA.
Mr.
Eden revealed in the Commons]
yesterday that German 'planes had already
arrived at Syrian aerodromes and that General Wavell had been given a free hand to deal with the situation thus resulting.
It is a very grave development in a situa- tion already very complicated, and its effect on British relations with Vichy cannot easily be forecast.
From the purely legal! standpoint, French rights, in Syria, which they hold under mandate from the. League of Nations, lapsed the moment the French notified their withdrawal from the League.
171
Under the Covenant no nation! поса member of the Leaguej can hold a mandate except very special circumstances; which have not arisen. Consequently any action taken! by Britain would theoretically not
HESS
IS GOOD NEWS
"Hess is good news for England. He is a sign that the enemy is more
„be directed against this mada vulnerable than appears
tory power.
The legal aspect, however,
is
on the battlefield,'
de-
Jess material than the military clares the "New York
Bues involved.
French Garrison
There is still a French garrison,
Variously estimated act
30,000 and 80,000 miel.
between
A large colonial
the
number of these ate soldiers, the majority uf the French troups having returned to France on the collapse of French Government last June.
The troops who remained are not France's best men and they have been having trouble with the local population.
Times."
"It is a sign that the formid- able monster that terrorises and Europe is still abnormal proposterous and is marked for self-destruction.
"MANHATTAN" TO
BE TRANSPORT
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL"}
The U.S. Army on June 15 will take over the 24.000-ton liner
Manhattan as an auxiliary trans- lulu-Manila run.
port on the San Francisco-Hono-
The liner is now in dry-dock at Brooklyn for repairs after her grounding on the Florida coast in International News
January. Service.
NO GIGARETTES PETAIN
FOR PRISONERS OF WAR
Information having been received that the German Govern- ment has discontinu- ed the free issue of cigarettes to British prisoners of war, the British War Office consequently has taken parallel action where Germon prison- ers of war are con- cerned, it was authori- tatively stated in London yesterday. Reuter.
ASKS FOR
BLIND
FAITH
Marshal Petajn, in a broadcast speech yester- day, referred to Admiral Darlan's recent talk with › Hitler in Germany.
He said: "I have approved the principles of this meeting". and will
The War Office step does not added, "This new meeting mean, however, that parcels of enable us to see clearly. the road tobacco and cigarettes despatched into the future and to continue from Britain are not reaching pri- the talks begun with the Ger- soners In Germany. There is man Government. much evidence that parcels are! getting through quite regularly.
Prisoners are also able to pur- chase cigarettes in camp canteens!
MORE TROOPS ARRIVE. IN AZORES
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") A German broadcast picked up but obviously the quality is bu in New York states that another no contingent of Portuguese has landed in the Azores. Inter- national News Service.
111728 the same. troops Wireless.
British
AXIS MISSIONS ARRIVE IN IRAQ THROUGH SYRIA
"OPINION THAT IS APPRE- HENSIVE BECAUSE IT IS MIS- INFORMED
NO
LONGER MEASURES OUR CHANCES AND RISKS AND JUDGES OUR ACTIONS TO-DAY.
"The question for you French- men now is to follow,me without of reservation along the path honour and national interest.
рго-
the
"If we successfully complete the negotiations now In gress, while maintaining strictest discipline of our public spirit, France wit overcome her defeat and will be able to the maintain in
world her position as a European colonial power."
."-Reuter.
"Honour Forbids"
and
In view of Mr. Eden's revela- tion regarding the position in Syria it is recalled that on April
A number of German 'planes with dis- guised markings have landed at three Syrian Marshal Petain, broadcasting aerodromes, apparently en route to Iraq, it and must spread and deepen the was reliably learned in Cairo yesterday.
"Whatever he is, moreover, the escape of Hess worries
doubts that eat into the secret) Germany."
rin's in Damascus, Beyrouth and ED: "HESS FLED BECAUSE OF
an appeal for national unity, said: "Honour forbids us to take any action against our former allies.
"But the integrity of the country demands that sources of
our vital supplies should be preserved. It is against these needs that dissident propagan- dists are daily in revolt. "The blood of Frenchmen already flowed in fratricidal fight- ing. That is enough."--British
The presence at Beyrouth of a high Ger- WILLIAM SHIRER, COLUM- man personage, who is engaged in conversa- There have been strikes and BIA BROADCASTER, DECLARtions with the Italian armistice commission Homs Hama, and the authorities: A VERY FUNDAMENTAL SPLIT and the French authorities, is reported by a have had to ten porise in order BETWEEN THE NAZI LEADERS traveller who has arrived in Cairo from Syria. Wireless.
Iraq Crisis
nt to precipitate trouble.
"Hess has always struck me as Another report received in the most normal man in the whole Catro says that a certain number The situation has been somewhat Nazi party. If he wasn't, whyor German aircraft have already poisoned by the ISIS in Iraq, would The be allowed to make arrived in Iraq, bringing pru- whose Quising Government have in public speech as late as May pagandists, agitators and other Some synipabusers in Beyrouth 1?"--Reuter. mid Damuscus, but, taken as a whole, the population is not ill- disposed towards Britain,
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NOT MANY PREPARED AERO- DROMES IN SYRIA, THE PLATEAU ON WHICH DAMAS- CUS IS SITUATED WOULD AFFORD NUMEROUS LANDING GROUNDS AND IS ALSO ADMIRABLE TERRAIN FOR MECHANISED WARFARE. NEUTER.
SOUTH AFRICA ON HESS
WHAT B.B.C.
DINS INTO GERMANY
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
similar Axis specialists.
Their arrival is said to have followed an urgent appeal by Raschid Ali.
Private sources in Cairo report that a certain number of Nazi aircraft recently landed at Rojāk aerodrome, in Syria.
Axis Mission In
Baghdad
Other information received in Cairo is that two Axis military missions are now in where they arrived a few days ago in 'planes which flew over syrian territory,
has
TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEIVES IRAQ DELEGATE
{
C
PRESIDENT INEUNU of Turkey yester- *.
Baghdad, day gave an interview to the Iraq Minister of War and the Iraq Minister at Ankara, states Ankara radio.
THE ITALIAN MISSION CON- SISTS OF TWO ITALIAN AIR
TWO
Rudolf Hess fled be- cause he was convinced. the war's "Battle of the GENERALS AND STAFF. THE Marne" was lost by the GERMAN MISSION NUMBERS
15, WHO ARRIVED IN Germans, according to a AEROPLANES-REUTER. The South African B.B.C. special broadcast newspapers generally directed to Germany. agree that Hess's flight shows the existence of a crack in the Nazi facade.
The "Cape Times" asks why Hitler has not published the docu- is said to have left ments Hess behind.
The "Rand Daily Mall” states the fact that Hess chose to be a prisoner pf,win in Britain, rather than go to. America via Portu. dal, shows the flight wasła pro- test, as well as an escopo.
of
The following were typical B.B.C. broadcasts Germany
during yesterday.te
to
INTERNATIONAL TIN: RESTRICTIONS
Earlier in the afternoon the President had received the Greek Minister and the German Ambassador at the Presidential Palace.
It is generally believed that van; but even von Papen must realise Papen, when he saw the President; that the Turks cannot be lulled in addition to delivering Hitler's into a sense of false security, with - "friendly message," particularly honeyed words. stressed German ́ friendliness to- The Turks are continuing | wards Turkey-the. Hinc which, it take all necessary measures to is understood, he took up at the safeguard their Independence, in- Foreign Office on Wednesday.. cluding the weeding out of any. The International, Tin' Commit- It is stated that von Papen likely Fifth Columnists.—Reuter. tee has not issued a communique placed no demands and asked, after its meeting yesterday but it nothing of Turkey but stressed the is understood that it drafted unfriendly relations between the two agreement .covering the proposed countries, since they were allies "It can hardly be assumed that next restriction period at the be- in the last war, and undoubtedly Mr. Churchill in his statement ginning of January, 1942, for pre- told the Turks, Germany, was will- will reveal more than a part of sentation to the signatory Goving to trade on a larger scale. what Hitler's closest confidant, ernments.
"it is expected that Mr. Churchill will make an exten. sive statement about the arrival of Hess
In Scotland. This statement will be based on the report of Mr. Kirkpatrick, who is still with Hess.
¡
The pro-war Afrikaans. news who is well informed about all Space for standard... tonnago-in Honeyed Words. paper "Sulderstem" says the the plans of the German Gov- the draft has been left blank, as fight is the beginning of an exo-ernment, has been saying.
the Governments have not yet In accordance with normal dus of Nazi leadors who fear, the "less has asked for pen and decided about the matter of ton diplomatic procedure it is expect wrath of the misguided German paper and is very busy making nages which the Committed. ra-ed that President. Incunt will poople as the hour of reckoning notes." — International News commended some weeks ago Instrual the Turkish Ambassador
Router.
to thank
Serviceun
ANCHORED IN»». PROHIBITED AREA:
Nine, junk masters were before Commander T. C. Stiff this morn- ing charged with anchoring their boats in Tytam Bay.
All defendants said that they did not know they were in a pro- hibited area.
A One of $15 or 14 days' Impri- his mossage sonment was imposed on each
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