Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-29
Embassy Says France
Has Made No Territory
Concessions 10 Hitler
Rumors of Negotiations
Affecting Stutus Are
Declared BoseIess
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The State Department has been
informed by the French Embassy
1t was learned today, that French
negotiations with Germany involved
no territory cession," or the "use OF
French strategical bases" by the
axis powers.
The information was communi-
Gated Informally and did not con-
stitute an answer by the Vichy gov
eminent to the message sent by
President Roosevelt to Marshal
Petain last week concerning French
possessions in the Western Henri
sphere.
The Embassy was said to have
given the State Department the text
of communication received late
yesterday from the Vichy govern
ment concerning its negotiations
with Germany and Italy.
No Foundation to RumOrs.
The Embassy also issued a state
ment containing substantially the
same information, as follows:
There is no foundation to rumors
of peace negotiations. or territory
cessions by the French government
to Germany or Italy, or use OF
French strategical bases by those
powers, or curtailment of French
sovereignty in any point of France
or her empire"
Although the note made no men,
ton of the French fleet, unofficial
French sources here noted that ii
was stated in Vichy last week that
France would not allow use of its
naval forces against Great Britain
American naval and military ex-
perts consider that REIMBURSEMENT
of the French f1eet-or the Dakar
air and naval baSe-to Germany
would be detrimental both to Amer
lean interests and to the security OF
the Western Hemisphere.
Questioned About Fleet.
1t was learned authoritatively that
the State DEPARTMENTAL approached
the French government on the ques-
ton of the French Navy before
and since the armiStice" and, while
there was no official confirmation
it was understood that renewed rep
reservations had been made in re-
cent days.
The French Fleet today, accord
ing to the latest unofficial figures
which make allowances for all wal
and post-armistice losses, consists
of 1872 warships (64 of them still
under construction and could play
an important or even decisive role
in the Mediterranean or off Dakar
President RooSevelt's message to
Marshal Petain, chief of the French
state. sent last week at the moment
the 84-year old hero of Verdun was
comforting with Reichsfuehrer Hit
Ter, was interpreted as designed to
reinforce the previously expressed
questions and views transmitted by
Secretary Hull No official informa-
ton on this subject, however, has
yet been released.
Appeal to Petain.
The Roosevelt message was gen.
orally understood in informed circles
nevertheless, to have been an appeal
to Petain not to submit to any Ger
man demands which might force
France into belligerent actor
against its former British ally, Of
cause a clash between French and
American interests.
American apprehension over the
future of the French feet was made
plain. it was learned, just before the
French government was forced to
flee from Paris. Renewed represent
atoms have since been made at Bor-
deaux, Tours and Vichy, the sue
cessive subsequent capitals of I'M
occupied France.
The subject of the French feet
has also loomed prominently in con-
versations here between Secretary
Hull, Undersecretary Welles and
CASTOR Henry Haye, the French
Ambassador.