Evening star., 1942-05-17
Rejecting Demands,
Laval Warns j. ).
On Martinique
Americas Position Is
Called Grave Blow to
French Sovereignty

Called Grave Blow to
French Sovereignty
Ry the Associated Press.
VICHY. Unoccupied France,
May 16.-Pierre Laval, Vichy's
pro-Axis chief of government,
announced tonight he had re-
jected the greater part of United
States demands concerning Mar
Unique and had warned the
Washington Government that it
would assume heavy responsible
ity in the event of any "unjusti-
fed violence"
He said Admiral Georges Robert,
high commissioner for Frances pos
sessions in the Western Hemisphere,
had been warned by the United
States that "if he ceased to have
control over the situation the status
of these possessions martinique,
Guadeloupe and French Guiana)
might be changed and that the
United States could no longer guar
antee their belonging to the French
people"
Returning from a series Of late
night conferences in Paris (where
he usually sees German authorities
and his fellow French collabora-
tionists). Laval held a meeting of
the cabinet, then read to a press
conference what he said was the text
of a United States note making six
demands and his answer declaring
that these were a grave blow to
French sovereignty" and that
France will not relinquish any of
her rights over Martinique no mat
ter what happens"
Repeats Assurances.
In a renewed bid for continued
relations with Washington, however,
he repeated his assurances-flrst
made May in rejection of a United
States warning against resistance
to British occupation of Madagascar
that "the French government to-
day solemnly affirms it will never
take responsibility for an act which
could compromise our relations with
the American people"
But with chagrin, he remarked to
the correspondents: My presence
in the French government does not
exactly appear to inspire the entire
confidence of the Washington Gov
ernment."
Lavals version of the American
note bore this out.
The present chief of government
Of Vichy, having announced he
would follow policy of greater
collaboration with Germany, it no
longer is possible for the American
Government to maintain the agree
ments (of November, 1940) ''' re-
garding the French possessions in
the Western Hemisphere since these
possessions are under orders of
Monsieur Laval" the note began.
1t was addressed to Admiral Robert.
Six Demands Listed.
The six demands were %. I'm
mobilization of the three French
warships and the warplanes at
Martinique. ca and 80. American
control of communications and COM
mercial and passenger traffic. a..
Limitation of French military ac-
tivities to police purposes. 60. Plac-
ing of the merchant ships in Mar
Unique at the disposal of the United
States. (6). The freezing of govern
ment bullion and funds held on the
island.
In return, Washington offered to
permit the warships to remain with
their crews as French property. to
recognize local French authorities
and assure proper exports and i'm
ports to the islands.
Laval's note made these points:
Warships-The French govern
ment is willing to negotiate with
Admiral Robert as its "intermedi-
ary. Laval said. however, that in
point of fact" they already were
unmobilized.
Merchant ships-Here, too, the
French are willing to negotiate on
their immobilization, but not on
turning them over to the United
States which to do, it was con-
tended, would violate Frances arm
tstice conditions with Germany.
Local authority-The French cate
gorically rejected the the American
condition that Admiral Robert be
recognized as supreme government
al authority in the islands, declin-
Ing to "relinquish any of its SOW
ereignty' and insisting on its au-
thority as legal channel for the
negotiations.
"Duty to Reject" Note.
The note said American propo-
sltlons tending to make Martinique
act without the authority of Vichy
constituted "a demand which the
French government has a duty to
reject"
Laval added in an aside to the
correspondents. that Admiral Rob-
ert was acting under direct orders
of his government despite Wash
ington's efforts to circumvent the
Laval government.
AS to the first condition. the i'm
mobilization of the French planes
and warShips, Laval said Admiral
Robert had been given to under
stand by Admiral John H. Hoover
of the United States Navy, who pre-
sented the demands in Martinique,
that quick answer" was wanted
by last Monday.
An answer was not sent until
Wednesday, he said, since Marshal
Petain had to rush back to Vichy
from the Riviera to confer on the
question.
Tho Frorcb pote y,rotoctod u,I,ct