London. May 16.
A statement denouncing the "fresh act of reason" by the Vichy Government in allowing the Germans to use Syrian aerodromes wag issued today by the London Headquarters of the Free French The statement asks how Marshal Philippe Petain. Chief of State, could have revoked his recent promise amd "publicly associate himself against the allies of France,"
The statement continues:—'Frenchmen who have joined Gen, de Gaulle to continue the struggle see with the deepest sorrow the sad end of a French military leader. now the merest toy of a small group of careerists who have gone over to the enemy."
After reaffirming the Free French view that Vichy "denies the wishes of the immense majority" of the French people, the statement con-Cludes—"Faced with this fresh infame on the part of Admiral Darlan and his accomplices, the Free French Wish to state before the whole world that Vichy does not represent France and that the French people must not in any way be involved in that government's dishonour, In the name of our nation, now gagged and powerless, Free France solemnly and pub-liely protests against Vichy's policy of treason,"—Reuter, Rift Among Nazi Seen in Hess' Flight Hitler Probably Worried
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.