Evening star., 1941-03-10

OF any tOOd sent to France or 6y
creation of nelO food require
mentS bU reQuiSitioning OF
Frances o1Un food products. =
Ey the Associated Press.
VICHY, France, March 10. -
Vice Premier Admiral Jean Oar
Ian informed American press rep
resentatives today that French
ships would be conveyed if the
British blockade of France con-
tinued.
Admiral Darlan. who with Chief
of State Marshal Philippe Petain
and Secretary of Food Supply Jean
Achard called the press conference,
declared:
IF the British continue this
blockade, which 1 consider imbecile,
will be obliged to ask permission
to provide arms and protection for
our merchantmen. I will let moth
ing stand in the way of the French
peoples eating"
The Germans are more generous
and more comprehensive of the
needs of humanity than the Eng
liSh,' he continued.
On London it was intimated
that the blockade would be con-
tinued regardless of any protec-
ton the French may provide for
their merchantmen
Blockade Held Useless.
Marshal Petain said the Germans
had released 100000 quintals C220,-
400 tons) of wheat out of 2,700000
which had been requisitioned for
the German Army.
Admiral Darlan said he considered
the blockade against Germany use
less and declared he had told that
to United States Ambassador Will
liam D. Leahy last night.
A few boatloads OF wheat will not
affect the outcome of the war, he
said.
Secretary of State Hull said
at his press conference today
that he had not been informed
so far by Admiral Leahy of Ad-
miral Darlan's statement con-
cerning the British blockade.
(American concern over the
possibility of naval clashes re-
sulting from the conveying of
French food ships raised the eX-
pectation in Washington today
that the United States would
work for a settlement of the
blockade dispute between Britain
and France
NJ. Achard read prepared state
ment in which he said 5,00O,0 900
ouintals Q8.348 300 bushels of
wheat from the United States were
needed for the unoccupied zone OF
France.
The French government has COM
municated to the American Govern
ment the urgency of obtaining and
transporting that amount of wheat,
he said.
The wheat, the secretary con-
tinued, would go to the unoccupied
zone only. not to the Nazi-held area,
and would be distributed under
American supervision.
Il don't want to consider what
would happen if we were obliged
to reduce bread rations to 200 or
perhaps $50 grams Z ounces or 5
ounces daily" NJ. Achard said, add
ing that the French are the worlds
heaviest bread eaters.
DUTY to See French Eat"
Marshal Petain Admiral Darlan
and NJ. Achard. who were serious
and business-Iike throughout the in
terview, remarked on the arrival of
the Red Cross ship Cold Harbor at
Marseille with food and clothing.
Admiral Darlan remarked that he
did not know how the British eX-
pected to blockade Germany by
blockading French Indo-China and
in a truculent tone repeated:
MY duty is to see that the French
cat"
Achard said the 1910 harvest
amounted to no more than 100000
quintalS Q54, ,l25 900 bushels of
wheat of mediocre quality against
normal harvest of 100000 quin-
tails
The government announced that
the French merchant ship Vile de
Maiunga had been captured by
British cruiser south of CapetoWn,
making 1O8 French merchantmen
seized by the British since the
FrenCh-German armiStice, IA of
them since the start of this year.
1t was indicated the French gov
eminent had sent a protest to the
South African government. saying
that such ship captures were mex
cusable and could have no influence
on the outcome of the war.
Will Defend Empire.
Frances African empire will be
defended against any outside attack
by French forces alone" it was
announced officially yesterday at
luncheon given by Admiral Darlan
for Gen. Maxine Weygand.
Gen Weygand, generalissimo of
the allied forces when France fell
out of the war last June, recently
returned from French Africa, where
(See VICHY, Page A-40