The Pittsburgh Press (August 2, 1941)
VICHY CRISIS KEPT VAGUE BY CENSORS
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Negotiations for naval bases in Africa are hinted
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By Ralph Heinzen, United Press staff writer
Vichy, Aug. 2 –
A new crisis arose in Vichy today and the Paris press predicted “exceptionally important decisions” would be made at a cabinet meeting.
Both French and German sources insisted that no new Nazi ultimatum has been delivered to Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain.
A severe censorship prevented revelation of the exact nature of the crisis. A Vichy dispatch published at Geneva, hinted the crisis involved “certain naval bases in Africa.” The General dispatch said:
If the hypothetical use of certain naval bases in Africa is envisaged, it would not be impossible to judge that their occupation would be useful to some other side. There is no doubt the Vichy government again faces great and grave difficulties.
The crisis has brought Franco-German conversations to a standstill. The issue is said to be dominated by matters of collaboration in matters other than the economic field.
Fernand de Brinon, Vichy delegate to Paris, conferred with Vice Premier Jean François Darlan and the situation was complicated by the presence in Vichy of Eugène Deloncle, one-time leader of the Cagoulards (the so-called “hooded ones,” a pre-war French Fascist group).
Each time Deloncle has come to Vichy a crisis has followed. He arrived here Thursday on a mysterious and ill-defined mission. He was followed by his own bodyguard which employs Chicago gangster methods. The bodyguards form a hollow square around their leader wherever he goes and their methods clash with the customary calm of this quiet capital.
The last known appearance of Deloncle and his private bodyguard at Vichy brought a sensational crisis in which the mobile guards were called out to protect strategic buildings, power stations and bridges. Deloncle and his group were “escorted” Vichy police.
Deloncle’s presence alone at Vichy would be sufficient to increase tension. But this time it is heightened by the fact that he is recruiting his own army in which he already claims to have enlisted 10,000 volunteers. The ostensible purpose of the Deloncle army is to fight against Russia on the Eastern front but it is considered here to be an armed menace as long as it remains in France.
The German-controlled Paris press was thundering without abatement against the Vichy regime, It predicted the Cabinet again will be reshuffled and hinted that Pierre Laval was again about to be returned to a position of power.
CBS heard a German radio broadcast reporting that important decisions are expected from the cabinet meeting. The German reports specifically noted that Laval is at his country estate near Vichy.
U.S. Ambassador William D. Leahy conferred yesterday with both Darlan and Pétain. No announcement of the subject was made.