London, Sept. 5.
From today, diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and France will be suspended, it is officially announced here.
A few weeks ago, the French Government informed the Netherlands Minister at Vichy that they felt compelled to take steps to this effect and subsequently the Netherlands Government was informed that diplomatic relations would come to an end on September 5.
The decision of the Petain Government is regretted in authoritative Dutch circles in London. It is pointed, out that relations with France remained courteous and friendly since the Franco-German armistice, and is felt that the Petain Government acting only under strong German pressure. It is suggested that presence of the Netherlands Legation, enjoying the usual diplomatic privileges and especially freedom to inform their Government by confidential means of the situation li France, could evidently no longer be
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