New York, Sept. 13. The Petain Government, it is rebably reported, have received a demand from Italy fcr the demobilization of all French troops in North Africa, and a demand from Germany for the surrender of 58 per cent of the livestock in unoccupied France.
Both demands are said to have been refused.
Italy's demand for demobilization is reported to be based on the fear that French troops, numbering 200,- 000, may throw in their lot with General de Gaulle, leader of free Frenchmen in London, thereby substantially reinforcing the British forces in the Mediterranean region, which Italy would regard as a serious menace to her whole military campaign against Egypt.
Well-informed quarters in Washington believe that in consequence of the reported French refusal of the Axis demands, either the Petain Government will be forced out or German and Italian troops might extend their occupation to the whole of France or to n ter part of it-
Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.