Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-06
BY the Associated Press.

VICHY. Unoccupied France, June
6.-The France of Marshal Petain
called on its loyal forces for stern
defense of Syria against any Brit
ish move while bordering today
Secretary Hull's declaration that
cooperation with Germany would
be considered utterly lnimical to
the just rights of other countries"
Official reaction to the American
Secretary of States statement yes
terday did not Immediately ma
terialize, but Vichy chieftains for
Africa, including Gen. Maxine
Weygand, participated in a cabinet
meeting where it was supposed Mr..
Hull's utterances we're discussed.
Unof1cially, the French insisted
that collaboration with Germany
was not, as Mr.. Hull expressed fear
it was, for the purpose of agrees
sion and oppression" Unofficial
sources said the collaboration was
purely economic and political to re-
store France to a normal place in
a reorganized Europe after the war
Dentz Calls for Defense.
The commander in chief of French
Empire forces in Syria, Gen. Henri
Dentz, ordered his men to their
posts for an unyielding defense of
these inundated lands, cautioning
them against British promises and
denying that military control is
being surrendered to Germany.
The command is clear" he said
in radio address last night to the
armies of the Levant. Defend our
possessions and defend them with
your own forces"
He said the peoples of the Levant
want no other emancipators but
you.
." I simply ask you-the
marshal (Petain) demands this-to
maintain our possessions of the ter
ritories belonging to us or intrusted
to our protection. Nothing more,
nothing less.
There is nothing in this contrary
to the honor and interests of
France. You have heard me. You
have understood me. I say no more.
Now to your posts"
Planes Return From Iraa.
Referring to the recent passage
of German warplanes to Iraq, via
Syrian air bases which are Ger
many's to control under the armi-
stice terms, he said that the same
planes now were returning.
Regarding reports abroad that
France was abandoning Syria to
German military control, that Ger
man troops had been landed at
Latakia and that 500 Germans had
arrived at Beirut on French hos
pital ship, Gen. Dentz said all these
stories were unfounded.
There are not now and have
never been German troops in Syria
and Lebanon" he said.
Celebrating on Vichy's collabora-
ton policy, the general warned
against seductive promiseS-a ref
erence to British and Free French"
agitation-and said they dazzle
you with the alluring image of
hypothetical victory which in COM
ing years would restore grandeur to
France.
1T is certain, however, that if
nothing is undertaken now to assure
the substance of France, no French
men will remain in France by
then"
In the Vichy cabinet meeting the
general question of defense of the
empire as part of the new Euro
pean organization also was said to
have been considered.
Vice Premier Admiral Jean OAR
Ian presided at the session, which
was attended by Gen. Maxine Wey-
gand, generalissimo of Vichy armed
forces in North Africa; Pierre Bois-
son, governor general of French
West Africa, and Admiral Jean
Esteva, resident general of Tunisia.
A laconic communique issued after