FRENCH SCAPEGOATS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 252, 1 August 1940, Page 5

FRENCH SCAPEGOATS.

COMPETENCE OF NEW COURT. “APPEASING PUBLIC OPINION.” (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) VICHY, July 31., The News Agency, says it is with a desire to appease public, opinion, upset ,b : y the terrible consequences of a war which the nation had l not wanted, that the Retain Government created a Supreme Court of Justice to establish responsibility which may lie in the political, diplomatic and military spheres. The constitutional acts of the Detain Government abrogate the previous laws which determined conditions under which the S'enate might constitute itself a Hjgh Court. The competence of five new Supreme Court is wider than that of the High Court. It can be summoned, after a decision by the Cabinet. The penalties do not differ from those of common law. There will be no death penalty, which cannot be imposed in France for political crimes. There will he no reprieves and no appeals.

COMMENT IN GERMANY.

“MISDIRECTED EFFORTS.”

REALLY GUILTY NOT MENTIONED (Received This D'ay, 11.50 a.m.) BERLIN, July 31. The official journal “Diplomatisc-ho Correspondents” says that the- iP'etain Government’s efforts to determine war guilt are evidently misdirected. They should be directed toward discovery why French politicians did not respond to the Fuhrer’s repeated offers of peace. The men really guilty for the war, those who encouraged hate for Germans and unloosed sadistic treatment of prisoners, are not mentioned.