Evening star., 1940-10-27
Hore-BeIisha Urqes
Parliament Be Called
On HitIer-Petain Pact
Demands Session Now on
Policy Toword Vichy
Regime and French Navy
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated ffess
LONDON, Oct. 26.-Leslie Hore-
Belisha, former British secretary for
war, demanded tonight that Parlia-
ment be called into session at once
because Of the Hitler-Petain agree
ment.
In a statement given to the semi
official press association, Hore-
Belisha called for an immediate
session "to consider the policy OF the
government toward the Vichy gov
ernment, the French Empire and
French Navy and the implications of
the agreement reached in principle
between Hitler and Marshal Petain."
Hore-Belisha, who was dropped by
the former Chamberlain government
last January, recalled that 1t was
when Parliament recently was IN
recess that the Dakar episode oc-
CURED and many days elapsed before
its recall"
Parliament now meets only from
time to time.
Explanation Demanded.
The former minister also de-
manded that the House of Commons
be informed without delay" why
the government, through King
George VI, had sent "a message of
encouragement coupled with SYM
pathy for the sufferings Of the
French people" to Marshal Philippe
Petain, French chief Of state.
His reference to the "Dakar epi-
sode" was to the failure of free
French" British supported, naval
expedition to wrest the West African
colony from the Petain government.
On that occasion he said the afiair
had to be examined post facto-and
in my opinion too late for any valu-
able effect. 1t is to be hoped that on
this occasion there will not be a
similar omission"
Hore-Belsha (who in the past has
not been on good terms with Prime
Minister ChurchilD, is still men,
Der of Parliament.
Three point Aim in Message.
King George vi sent his message
to Marshal Petain in what informed
circles described as a government
attempt TO establish a three-point
program to help both Britain and
France"
Authoritative sources said the
King expressed confidence in the
ultimate British victory and hope
that the French would join one day
in the benefits.
king George recently sent a
friendly message TO King Boris
of Bulgaria. whose country, like
Rumania, is under the threat Of
Nazi dominationJ
One of the points in the reported
British aim in messaging the aged
French chief of state was to cap
italize on the division of opinion in
high French circles. where certain
cabinet members were reported loath
to join Vice Premier Pierre Lavals
plan of cooperating with Adolf Hit
Ter against Britain.
The French government at
Vichy announced tonight that
Petain and Hitler have agreed
in principle to work together to
reconstruct peace in Europe.D
Churchill Message Recalled.
The second point. informed circles
said, would be to prevent further
military advantages from falling to
Hitler as a result of the conquest of
France. 1t was recalled that Prime
Minister Winston Churchill broad
cast a message to France on the eve
of the Hitler-Laval conversations.
Mr.. Churchill. many believe, had
advance information of the nego-
tiations when he urged the French:
IF you can't help us, at least don't
hinder us"
The third point would be to pre-
vent further humiliation" of Brit
aims former ally.
The Kings message was not made
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