Oct. sin Europe change from with such rapidity that some:
y is required to keep pace week it was Rumania vhich occupied the spot-light, then Yugosla~ 1nd now attention In conn een formally denied by the Vichy Govern-in return for peace terms, France was prepared leged terms, however, they embrace France allowed to assist in creating the "new order" in Europe, not as an Axis partner but merely as an associate. She would to yield Alsice-Lorraine to Germany and Nice to Italy, consent to a redistribution of French colonies in northern Africa, return all former German colonies, and submit to the others being governed by Germany, Italy and France. In addition the alleged terms include the military assistance France would be required to give.
'M. Laval is reported as supporting ac~ ceptance of these terms, while it is also stated that other members of the Vichy Government are strongly opposed to any such thing. The denial from Vichy must be cepted in the present circumstances as being the truth, though there can be Tittle doubt that, if they could, Hitler and Mussolini would go a long way with promis would throw her lot in with the Axis for any such inducement. What is of importance in these alleged terms is the fact that they nvisage the almost complete surrender of her vast empire to a condominium consisting, of herself and the two Axis Powers from that point of view are if anyth ery little more moderate than what were believed to be Hitler's real intentions.
While M, Laval and Hitler are engaged in conversations sbout something the nature ich has not yet been disclosed, Rib ventrop is shortly "expected to arrive where he may be joined by some statesman, probably Ciano. The subject of their negotiations it is reported Is to secure closer' ce-operation between 'Spain and the Axis Powers, possibly to per~ suade Spain to enter the" war, to attack Gibraltar and cede to Germany' and Italy submarine bases in the Auantic. Spain after the tribulations of the Civil War is really in no position to engage light-heartedly in this present struggle. What she needs at the moment are many years in which (0 rebuild the damage which has been done economically and industrially to the country, but the fact cannot be overlooked that General Franco owes a great debt to the Axis Powers for the assistance given him from 1930 onwards, and may very well be called upon to pay it at the Dictators' convenience.
But should cither of the two possible developments occur, or even both, no change in the British determination to continue this struggle until victory is assured will happen, It would not be the first time that Britain has been faced with such a position, and though circumstances have considerably changed with, the passage of time there need be no doubt as to the readiness of the British people to ace any new situation which may arise. On the other hand should either of these rumours prove correct they may be taken 8 a measure of the desperation of the Dictators. Obviously, if they are as certain of winning now as they were when they wantonly plunged Europe into war, the ast thing they would wish would be' more helpers who would surely expect to share the spoils should Britain be defeated, and the very fact that they are in search of fur= ther assistance can only indicate uneasiness. ax to the outcome of the war, and a desire to do everything possible and at all costs to avert that defeat which is awaiting them, That Hitler is attempting to get France and Spain in on his side may prove to be true. Spain may fall into Hine, but it will indeed be surprising if France were to follow suit,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.