Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-01
DarIan AssaiIs Britain
For 'PiraticaI' Raids
On French Shipping
Statement Comedies
With Report Of New
Tunisiun Attacks
BY the Associated Press.

VICHY, Unoccupied France, May
3l.-Vice Premier Admiral Jean Dar-
Ian denounced Britain today, evil
IDENTIFY with the approval of Chief Of
State Marshal Petain, for what he
called piratical attacks on French
shipping.
Coincident with Admiral Darlan's
statement, made before French edi-
tors in Nazi-occupied Paris, it was
reported reliably that the French
North African port of Sfax had been
attacked by British planes for a
third time and the 3,313-ton Italian
freighter Florida II set afire.
Il remain decided, more than
ever" the admiral said, ito force re-
spect for Frances right to free use
of her ports and her routes of COM
munication.
Ranging himself squarely on the
German side in his expose of French
British relations. the No. 2 man in
the Vichy regime asserted that
even in the improbable case of
British victory" or in "a triumphant
Anglo Saxon world. France would
be only a dominion of second or
der
FavOrs New Order.
But. he declared 1T means little
if England treats us as continental
Ireland or even as colony. because
l intend to act in such way that
France retakes her place as power
in Europe and the world That
means she must participate in con-
struction of the new order.
That means also she will act to
hasten the hour of peace because
if British imperialism needs the war
to destroy Europe. France needs
peace to exist and grow as one of
the essential parts of this Europe
Admiral Darlan, saying 143 French
ships had been captured by Eng
land, said "all this we'll shows that
England intends to wage a war of
piracy against us by which. at the
same time, she replaces at our ex-
pense the tonnage she is increas-
ingly losing and by which she leads
the French population toward fam
inc"
The statement was repeated when
Admiral Darlan returned here from
Paris this afternoon,
Isolated by England, He Says.
He said he was charged by Mar
shall Petain with carrying out his
policy of restoration and recon-
struction."
IF one wishes to sum up diplo-
matte relations between France and
Great Britain from 1919 to 1889, u
he said, lone could say: Each time
France called on her for aid, Eng
land left her isolated. Each time
England wanted to defend her own
interests. France was at her side. '"
Referring to the attacks on Sick,
Admiral Darlan asked why no
bombs had been dropped on Valen-
cha. Lisbon and South American
ports where there are also Italian
ships.
In fact. there is only one objec-
tive of these acts of brutality"
he declared, Ito eliminate French
maritime power, cut continental
France from its empire and isolate
us from the rest of the world"
He also said the value OF the
tonnage lost to France by British
action totaled more than We have
paid Germany since the armistice. y
Hits De Gaulle Actions.
He called occupation of French
Equatorial Africa by the Free
French" forces of Gen. Charles
de Gaulle as rape pure and simple
OF great supply center and starting
point on the trade route between
America and Western Africa"
The Paris newspaper L'Oeuvre,
considered in close touch with the
attitude of Berlin. predicted 1.-The
military defeat Of America is
certain"
This would lead to the loss of
her South American trade to
Europe" an editorial said, land
the United States would then ex-
perlence q complete economic and
social upheaval. Deprived of for
e1gn markets it would be forced to-
ward autarchy and hence totali-
-