Evening star., 1942-05-06

leaders. which despite great numer-
ical inferiority opposed with heroic
resistance the Anglo-Saxon forces"
First Line Declared Held.
Reports reaching Vichy up to
noon gave no indication of the
course Of the battle against the
British landing force other than
Gov. Gen. Armand Annet's report
that the first line of defenses was
being held.
One French source said several
British planes had been shot down
by anti-aircraft guns yesterday
Some OF the light tanks which the
British we're said to have put into
action ashore were reported de-
stroyed
Newspapers in Unoc couple d
France announced the news of the
British landing on the big French
island for the first time this morn
ing.
The Vichy cabinet met following
an interview between Laval and
Fernand de Brinon. secretary of
state in the foreign ministry.
U. S. Warning Rejected.
The Vichy government yesterday
violently rejected a United States
warning against putting up a fight
and ordered the islands garrison to
resist to the death for the honor
Of France"
But husky voiced Laval. who
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at press conference, said Vichy
nevertheless would decline to take
the first step toward breaking of
diplomatic relations with Washing
ton as a result of its backing Brit
ain in the Madagascar "aggres-
sion"
Marshal Petain, Laval and Ad-
miral Jean Darlan, defense chief,
united in denouncing the attack and
in urging French air, sea and land
forces to resist.
II have learned of the aggression
of which Madagascar has just been
the object on the part of British
forces" said a message sent by
Marshal Petain to Gov. Gen. Annet.
"An ultimatum demanding the
unconditional surrender by the COM
mander of the military forces was
answered: We will defend ourselves
to the very end
That was the only answer he
could have made and he made 1t.
Tell him I am behind him In this
tragic trial in which he is defending
French honor
ITO the civilian population un-
justly attacked, to the soldiers, SAIL
ores and airmen and to their chiefs
address my greetings and that of
France"
Statement by Darlan.
Admiral Darlan, as commander OF
all French armed forces, outdid both
Laval and Marshal Petain in bitter
ness in a message to the defending
forces.
Calling the British highway rob-
bers" and f1aying "Anglo-Saxons" in
general, he declared "the day will
come when England will pay"
"Once again the British, instead
Of fighting their enemies, seek the
easiest path Of attacking a French
colony far from the metropolis" he
said.
Laval Rejects Note.
Laval personally announced the
rejection Of the United States note
warning that resistance against the
occupation OF Madagascar would be
considered "as an attack directed
against the United Nations"
The French note said the Vichy
government rejects as inadmissable
the pretense to forbid the French
government to defend its territory"
and raise the most energetic pro-
test against this aggression"
Noting with regret" that the
United States approved Britain's
action, the French government said
1t Cannot but leave to President
Roosevelt the part of responsibility
which will fall on him the conse-
quences which would result from
this aggression"
Before reading the American and
French notes to q press conference
Laval said he had told Mr.. Tuck In
an interview yesterday morning:
I could add considerations of A
sentimental character. know they
are In the hearts of Frenchmen and
Americans who remember this his
tory.
You were present the other day
at my interview with Admiral Leahy
departing United States Ambas-
sador). I repeat to you that no
definite act between our two coun-
tries viii come from France"
French Official sources said,
Never has Japan made any re-
quests concerning Madagascar
either from the diplomatic or mill
tary viewpoint"
Declaring that when Japan
wanted bases In Indo- China she
opened negotiations, this source
said, "in this case France Is faced
with aggression which was preceded
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