WesWorld

New Vehicles Begin to Equip Army - La Croix, Thursday, July 5, 1945
Examples of the new Hotchkiss VLD (Véhicule léger de Découverte) scout car began arriving in numbers, equipping reconnaissance elements of the 2e Division Blindée. Hotchkiss has received a contract for three and a half thousand VLD scout cars. The Armee de Terre additionally confirmed it planned to place an order for approximately five to eight hundred tank destroyers within the next twenty-four months, according to a design proposed by AMX.

Preparations Underway for Plebiscite - Gia Dinh Bao, Wednesday, July 11, 1945
Pro-independence and pro-Union groups have begun to ratchet up their campaign rhetoric for the coming October 21st Plebiscite regarding the possibility of independence from France. The pro-independence parties present an impressive amount of fervor, although rumors are growing about foreign funding arriving in the coffers of leading independence groups.

Rain Falls on Bastille Day Celebrations - Le Figaro, Saturday, July 14, 1945
Despite a fine misty rain that fell all day in Paris, large crowds celebrated Bastille Day. Celebrations elsewhere in the country continued without any interruptions.

Marine Nationale Awards Ships for Battle-Readiness - La Croix, Wednesday, July 18, 1945
The Prix ​​pour la haute Préparation de la flotte ("Award for High Preparation in the Fleet") was awarded to Le Malin (Mediterranean Fleet), Barfleur (Atlantic Fleet), and Téméraire (Forces Outre-Mer).

Carrousel de Saumur - L'Union, Saturday, July 21, 1945
Visitors to this year's Carrousel de Saumur shall be treated to the world's largest exhibition of armoured vehicles, ranging from the museum's collection of Great War tanks (such as Renault FT and Mark I Male) to the modern, including the Char-8A4 Montbrun, the Char-13 Masséna, and the never-before-seen in the west Ob'yekt 136 from Russia. Also presented for the first time to the press is the new CDC-12 tank destroyer.

Change of Power in Syria - Agence Havas, Thursday, July 26, 1945
Prime Minister Saadallah al-Jabiri stepped down today after losing the National Bloc party majority in the Syrian Parliament. The parliament, now dominated by the League of Nationalist Action, quickly appointed their party chief, Khalid al-Hafiz, as Prime Minister. Despite the shift in power, National Bloc leader Shukri al-Quatli remains as president of Syria.

Renault Increases Productivity, Foreign Ties - Le Temps, Wednesday, August 1, 1945
Renault announced a major new initiative in the Billancourt plant to drive down costs and manufacturing time through the process of raising quality. The initiative is designed to increase the number of automobiles produced in the plant. Additionally, Renault approved Russian associate MZMA's request to sell the licensed 4CV (manufactured in Russia as the Moskvitch) in Poland, through MZMA opening a new plant in Lublin for final assembly. Renault agreed to provide twenty million francs of funding for the new Lublin factory, as well as an unspecified quantity of manufacturing equipment.

Colonial Governors Recommend Opposing ACPE Growth - Les Échos, Thursday, August 9, 1945
The governors of Cote d'Ivoire, Cote d'Or, and Guiana sent an open letter to President Theisman and Prime Minister Monnerville, requesting that they oppose the further expansion of the Accord commercial paneuropéen to include the Dutch 'colonies', as currently discussed as part of the joint customs union plan. The proposed expansion, the letter explained, would result in the French colonies seeing greater competition from the Dutch fiefdoms and the loss of their heretofore privileged status within the trade organization.

5e Division d'Infanterie Completes Modernization - L'Est Républicain, Tuesday, August 14, 1945
The 5e Division d'Infanterie, headquartered in Nancy, completed its transition to a mechanized infantry division today, being the last of the Class A divisions of the Armee de Terre to receive its armoured components.

Byblos Syllabary Published - Science et Vie, Thursday, August 16, 1945
Maurice Dunand's monograph, Byblia Grammata, began to reach the hands of archaeological experts the world over today, describing Dunand's longtime work excavating the ancient city of Byblos in Lebanon. Included in this work is the Byblos Syllabary, an as-yet untranslated ancient alphabet.

Hotchkiss Artois to be at Berlin Auto Show - Le Temps, Saturday, September 1, 1945
Hotchkiss et Cie confirmed that their upcoming Artois would make its second public appearance next week at the Berlin Auto Show.

Major Exercises Begin for Atlantic Fleet, Indian Ocean Squadron - Le Matin, Tuesday, September 4, 1945
The Atlantic Fleet and the Indian Ocean Squadron began their annual fleet exercises, Exercise Hercule 45, today in their respective areas of operation. The Mediterranean Fleet and the Pacific Fleet shall begin Exercise Hercule beginning next Monday, while the Force d'Action Naval shall wait for their own fleet maneuvers, Exercise Spartiate 45, in October.

New Construction in La Défense - Les Échos, Tuesday, September 18, 1945
Crews broke ground today for the new 120-meter tall Tour Aurore in the growing La Défense business district. When completed in early 1949, the tower will possibly serve as the world headquarters for Schlumberger (Société de prospection électrique), which has expressed an interest in moving to the new La Défense district. Tour Aurore is the sixth major skyscraper under construction in burgeoning La Défense, which stands poised to become the economic centre of France.

Chinese Force Down Indochinese Aircraft - Gia Dinh Bao Morning Edition, Saturday, September 29, 1945
A spokesman for the Indochinese Air Defense Group (GDAI) alleged in an emergency press conference Tuesday morning that the Chinese Air Force had forced down and seized a transport aircraft engaged in a training flight late yesterday evening. The aircraft, a four-engined Breguet-Nord N.1510 Normandie transport, was flying out of Da Nang with six crew and five passengers aboard.

According to the GDAI's brief statement, the pilot reported by radio that Chinese fighters intercepted the Normandie off Formosa and ordered him to divert to a Chinese airfield.

The Indochinese Foreign Ministry, as well as Indochinese Governor-General Truong Van Bao, have made no comment as of press time.

French Air Force Transport Shot Down by China - Agence Havas Morning Release, Saturday, September 29, 1945
HANOI - The French Air Force confirmed that a Breguet-Nord N.1510 four engine transport aircraft was machine-gunned by Chinese aircraft and forced to land in Formosa. "The aircraft in question was engaged in a training flight between Da Nang and Vladivostok, with a crew drawn primarily from the Indochinese Air Defense Group," Armee de l'Aire spokesman Gustave Philbert reported. "The aircraft commander, Captain Nguyen Loc, reported by radio that Chinese aircraft intercepted the plane and fired machine guns into it, then ordered him to land in Formosa. As a result of damage to the aircraft, Captain Loc was forced to comply."

Philbert revealed that the aircraft, although owned by the French Air Force, is one of several Normandies officially on loan to the Indochinese Air Defense Group, pending the delivery of the GDAI's own aircraft, expected in October. The crew, commanded by Captain Loc and supervised by two French Air Force officers, was undertaking certification for long overseas flights. Philbert added that Armee de l'Aire transports regularly fly between Da Nang and Vladivostok on transport or training missions every few weeks, flying over the ocean to avoid Chinese national airspace, following the same flight path as Air France aircraft bound to Japan or the Russian Far East.

In Hanoi, Governor-General Truong Van Bao, in a statement to the Indochinese press, condemned the interception and demanded an immediate explanation from Beijing. No official comments have been received at the present time from the Chinese government.

Nice round-up of events.

Indeed, an illuminating summary. The situation in Syria bears watching and of course developments in Indochina are of great moment. I think that the French Government ought to give due consideration to the opinions of the colonial governors - their point is well taken.

True, the Dutch Empire is far more profitable than most European empires. Suriname dominates Bauxite production, Kongo zinc and uranium and DEI oil. Then there are rubber plantations and woods etc. and other minerals so these have a lot of raw materials to sell. with growing affluence they probably consume more goods than historical too.

Anyway, they could lobby the French government to let them join to restore eqaulity, or to give them independence to decide their own fate.

Quoted from "Hood"

Anyway, they could lobby the French government to let them join to restore eqaulity, or to give them independence to decide their own fate. :D

Most of the French colonies aren't independent or autonomous (which is what disqualifies Indochina and the Dutch colonies), so they're already participating in ACPE as part of the French Union. The colonies' beef is that, if the Dutch fiefdoms join, they lose their privileged status.

Indochina is the only part of the French Union which isn't already part of ACPE; that's because their autonomous legislature has chosen to pursue a semi-protected economy.

Quoted from "Hood"

True, the Dutch Empire is far more profitable than most European empires. Suriname dominates Bauxite production, Kongo zinc and uranium and DEI oil. Then there are rubber plantations and woods etc. and other minerals so these have a lot of raw materials to sell. with growing affluence they probably consume more goods than historical too.

Anyway, they could lobby the French government to let them join to restore eqaulity, or to give them independence to decide their own fate. :D

Hmm. I would beg to offer a different opinion.

As for Suriname dominating bauxite production - the League of Nation's industrial statistics for 1939 peg's Suriname's output of bauxite as approximately 377,000 tons - far less than the 683,000 tons produced in metropolitan France or the 540,000 tons produced in Hungary. And Italy's output of 360,000 tons stands not far behind Suriname's - Yugoslavia's output is pegged at 406,000 tons. This ignores bauxite resources in British Guiana and Jamaica, let alone other Commonwealth resources. As a world player Suriname is at best useful.

As for the Congo - at this point in time, uranium is not a very useful metal and production everywhere is at a very low level. Chile's output of copper far exceeded the Congo's at this point in time - to say nothing of the other Copper-belt resources that are in Wesworld's SAE. According to the LON stats, Congo produced barely 4,000 tons of zinc ore in 1939 - far behind Germany's 270,000 tons, Poland's 70,000 tons, and Yugoslavia's 41,000 tons.

The Dutch East Indies are a major oil producer - of that there is no dispute - but at this point in time its output of nearly 8 million tons is behind that of Persia with 10 million tons, the USSR with 29 million tons and Venezuela with 30 million tons. Even Romania produces more than 6 million tons.

Even allowing for a more equitable distribution of resources and development, the Benelux colonies would find it difficult to market their primary products in the PETA market - certainly in the short run - due to competing sources elsewhere. Transport costs would defeat in large measure the value of the DEI's oil resources. For oil importing nations their tariffs are likely already so low the exemptions granted to DEI sourced oil in an expanded PETA market would count for little.

From Germany's perspective, gaining access on an equal basis to the Benelux colonies would be a great boon - and would likely siphon a lot of trade its way, given the absence of any customs preference.

Quoted from "BruceDuncan"

As for Suriname dominating bauxite production - the League of Nation's industrial statistics for 1939 peg's Suriname's output of bauxite as approximately 377,000 tons - far less than the 683,000 tons produced in metropolitan France or the 540,000 tons produced in Hungary. And Italy's output of 360,000 tons stands not far behind Suriname's - Yugoslavia's output is pegged at 406,000 tons. This ignores bauxite resources in British Guiana and Jamaica, let alone other Commonwealth resources. As a world player Suriname is at best useful.

France has also been heavily investing in the combination of bauxite mines, hydro power, and aluminum smelters in French Guinea, with one major smelter (Africa's first) completed in 1943 and another entering operation in 1948. If Guinea hasn't already surpassed Suriname in bauxite production, they will do so by a large margin by 1948.

Alcoa has been in Suriname since 1916 and I would think the historical Paranam facility begun in 1938 has been built with probably a greater mix of US-Dutch joint investment than historically. This began full production around 1941. The historical Afobaka Dam will probably be a project before the 1960s in Wesworld, perhaps one for the 50s.

My econ info is from 1937. The table does not feature Belgium or the Congo. The DEI and Dutch Guiana were producing 0.1% of the world's coal, 2.7% oil, 17.5% tin ore, 14.8% bauxite, 0.2% manganese ore, 0.4% sulphur, 0.9% phosphates, 33% rubber, 6.3% rice, 1.7% maize and 8.1% sugar cane.

According to the 1937 table France is the prime Bauxite producer on 17.2%, Hungary 13.3%, USSR 10.7%, the British Empire 10%, Italy 9.6%, Yugoslavia 8.9%, Greece 3.4%. So I agree Europe is over-supplied and hence American investment is more likely and most trade is probably with the Americas. Africa most likely gets its bauxite from whatever local European power is in control/ allied. So SAE for me, big chunks for GB and France and EAS for Italy. Total world production is given as 4 million tonnes, so 14.8% gives 592,000 tonnes, far more than your information, and of course this excludes the later Paranam complex.

According to the 1937 table the DEI is fifth in terms of global production behind USA, Latin America, USSR, Iran and Iraq. Rumania and British Empire follow with slightly smaller amounts. DEI produced about 7,344,000 tonnes of oil.

Uranium now is not very much in demand, but with Britain, France, Japan and probably USA, Germany and Russia looking at commercial plants within the 1950s and with no negative "bomb" connotations it could be a boom industry (no pun intended!) with many nations getting this technology (I've recently read a very interesting article on Brazil's atomic programme of the 1950s). If bombs do get made like OTL then strategic control could be very important. In Union Minière du Haut-Katanga (UMHK) in the Congo was the supplier of 82% of the world's radium so there is at least one radioactive market they dominate (assuming the 1920-30s market for healthy radium products like radium face cream and toothpaste still exists!)

I agree European imports are probably not the main market. Anyhow its only an idea. Applications may be made and PETA may say no. Depending on how harsh the response is, the UKN might debate how useful PETA really is.

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Uranium now is not very much in demand, but with Britain, France, Japan and probably USA, Germany and Russia looking at commercial plants within the 1950s and with no negative "bomb" connotations it could be a boom industry (no pun intended!) with many nations getting this technology

I guess it is time to form the Key Atomic Benefits Office Of Mankind.

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Uranium now is not very much in demand, but with Britain, France, Japan and probably USA, Germany and Russia looking at commercial plants within the 1950s and with no negative "bomb" connotations it could be a boom industry (no pun intended!) with many nations getting this technology

France can get their uranium either from local sources or from Niger without any fuss: I've been mining uranium there for several years. Germany and Russia have their own local sources (Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan could probably dominate the world market, assuming I wanted to export). Also, don't forget that one of Atlantis's major mineral deposits includes uranium, sooo... probably not a lot of growth there.

Ah yes, I was forgetting Atlantis...

True, all the major powers have secure home sources of uranium (Britain can obtain from Australia). Places like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Iberia, Italy, Turkey, SAE, Bharat, Nordmark and China are probably the next tier of nations to buy this kind of technology before 1960 and all will need to acquire stocks from somewhere, most likely whatever ally/bloc they are closest too.

Britain is sitting pretty since it can also source historically known occurrences in Canada and Namibia at this time.

I believe Iberia has uranium occurrences in central Portugal that, historically, are already known.

SAE has some uranium in the Witwatersrand, and up in Gabon. The latter isn't historically known yet, the former might be marginal until uranium becomes a "must-have".

There are sources in Bharat (India, Pakistan), though none historically known until the early fifties. I assume Bharat could develop power and weapon programs in advance of the historical Indian pace, but it would be irrelevant within the scope of the sim.

Did some checking, and apparently Sweden's uranium reserves were well known by the 1940s, just laborsome to extract - they're tied up as impurities in extensive oil shales, so getting the metal out of them involves digging up the shale and processing it extensively to free up the uranium. On the upside for me, it is oil shale and was historically in use for synthetic oil production, and there are some other useful metals mixed in as well, notably molybdenum.

Chinese Force Down Indochinese Aircraft - Gia Dinh Bao Morning Edition, Saturday, September 29, 1945
A spokesman for the Indochinese Air Defense Group (GDAI) alleged in an emergency press conference Tuesday morning that the Chinese Air Force had forced down and seized a transport aircraft engaged in a training flight late yesterday evening. The aircraft, a four-engined Breguet-Nord N.1510 Normandie transport, was flying out of Da Nang with six crew and five passengers aboard.

According to the GDAI's brief statement, the pilot reported by radio that Chinese fighters intercepted the Normandie off Formosa and ordered him to divert to a Chinese airfield.

The Indochinese Foreign Ministry, as well as Indochinese Governor-General Truong Van Bao, have made no comment as of press time.

French Air Force Transport Shot Down by China - Agence Havas Morning Release, Saturday, September 29, 1945
HANOI - The French Air Force confirmed that a Breguet-Nord N.1510 four engine transport aircraft was machine-gunned by Chinese aircraft and forced to land in Formosa. "The aircraft in question was engaged in a training flight between Da Nang and Vladivostok, with a crew drawn primarily from the Indochinese Air Defense Group," Armee de l'Aire spokesman Gustave Philbert reported. "The aircraft commander, Captain Nguyen Loc, reported by radio that Chinese aircraft intercepted the plane and fired machine guns into it, then ordered him to land in Formosa. As a result of damage to the aircraft, Captain Loc was forced to comply."

Philbert revealed that the aircraft, although owned by the French Air Force, is one of several Normandies officially on loan to the Indochinese Air Defense Group, pending the delivery of the GDAI's own aircraft, expected in October. The crew, commanded by Captain Loc and supervised by two French Air Force officers, was undertaking certification for long overseas flights. Philbert added that Armee de l'Aire transports regularly fly between Da Nang and Vladivostok on transport or training missions every few weeks, flying over the ocean to avoid Chinese national airspace, following the same flight path as Air France aircraft bound to Japan or the Russian Far East.

In Hanoi, Governor-General Truong Van Bao, in a statement to the Indochinese press, condemned the interception and demanded an immediate explanation from Beijing. No official comments have been received at the present time from the Chinese government.

OOC: Due to the time difference between Indochina and Metropolitan France, Agence Havas's morning news is twelve hours behind Gia Dinh Bao Morning Edition.

Semi-OOC:

The German Government notes the press report and the German ambassador in Paris will express his Government's concern, hoping for clarification from the French Government.

The Philippine press seizes upon both the Indochinese and French reports as further proof of Chinese perfidy and calls for stepped up air patrols in Philippine air space.

The Yugoslav Government notes the press report and wonders if the arms market is going to heat up again. 8)

The British government will also express concern and will also be seeking clarification from Paris as to the circumstances of the flight. Discussions will also begin with the Chinese Ambassador in London. BOAC will continue to operate its services to Hong Kong. [Fighters at Hong Kong will probably be on alert to assist any British or civilian planes in 'trouble' near Hong Kong.

The Dutch government will condemn the actions of China.
The Argentine government will probably not make any formal announcement.

OOC Unless it was accidental, this seems hard to believe from a deliberate Chinese action. I know the Chinese are seen as warmongers, but both wars they have been invovled in where not their fault.

IC Australia grumbles about the French starting another war, that the Aussies will have to end.

Mexico is surprisingly quiet on the matter.

Quoted from "Desertfox"

IC Australia grumbles about the French starting another war, that the Aussies will have to end.

Admiral Langsdorff, reading those words in the Straits Times, has a bit of a chuckle.

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I know the Chinese are seen as warmongers, but both wars they have been invovled in where not their fault.

I am pretty sure other nations think differently about that.

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IC Australia grumbles about the French starting another war, that the Aussies will have to end

I am pretty sure other nations think differently about that.

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Mexico is surprisingly quiet on the matter.

I am pretty sure other nations think that they are hiding something.

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Admiral Langsdorff, reading those words in the Straits Times, has a bit of a chuckle.

... so no coffee being sprewn all over his newspaper when reading that?

Quoted from "Rooijen10"

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I know the Chinese are seen as warmongers, but both wars they have been invovled in where not their fault.

I am pretty sure other nations think differently about that.

True dat!

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IC Australia grumbles about the French starting another war, that the Aussies will have to end

I am pretty sure other nations think differently about that.

Yeppers!

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Mexico is surprisingly quiet on the matter.

I am pretty sure other nations think that they are hiding something. :)

Beyond a doubt

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Admiral Langsdorff, reading those words in the Straits Times, has a bit of a chuckle.

... so no coffee being sprewn all over his newspaper when reading that?

He's in Singapore - either its morning tea or the sun is over the yardarm and someone's broken out the gin. :P