M. FLANDIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 58, 18 December 1940, Page 3

M. FLANDIN

NEW FOREIGN MINISTER.

“HITLER’S FINAL TRUMP CARD”

(United Press Association—Copyright )

NEW YORK, December 16.

On the basis of an interview with the new' French' Foreign Minister (M. Flandin) on March 20, which he promised to treat as confidential until after M. Flandin came to power, the London correspondent of an overseas news agency declares that M. Flandin’s appointment is Herr Hitler’s final trump card against Britain. It means, he says, that Herr Hitler is convinced that the clericals and antiFascists will soon overthrow Signor Mussolini, and he wants to forestall the possibility of French assistance in this move and prevent the Vichy Government linking up with a Catholic Latin bloc consisting of Italy under Signor Mussolini’s successor, Spain, Portugal, and the South Americas, which would be anti - Nazi but which would attempt to mediate a peace between Britain and Germany. He adds that Herr Hitler will attempt, through M. Flandin, to influence Vichy to war against Britain and hand over the French Fleet... The correspondent reports that M. Flandin on March 20 said “When Herr Hitler came to power I knew that France was finished, and that there was nothing to do but to sever the BritishFrench alliance and make an alliance with Germany, frankly. acknowledging that Germany militarily, politically, and economically dominated Europe, and that France’s pre-eminently agricultural economy was ,■ complementary to Germany’s industrial economy.

“A mutually beneficial agreement would thereby be possible. .Naturally, Herr Hitler would control French foreign policy and the Army and Navy. “If the war develops into real bloodshed, Herr Hitler will be justified in demanding a pound of flesh, which might involve even France in war against Britain.’’ Use by Hitler. One report says that German opinion is that the fall of Marshal Petain would have resulted in complete choas in France. The “Daily Telegraph” says that M. Flandin is a less discredited figure and more suitable than M. Laval to implement German wishes; for example, to deal with the situation which would arise if Germany decided to send troops to Italy across France, Herr Hitler vould presumably use M. Flandin’s connections in. Britain and elsewhere for peace proposals and other diplomatic action.

The German radio stated that the Vichy’Government has confiscated the property of several prominent figures and deprived them, of their nationality. They include M. Leger, a former secretary of the Foreign Ministry, M. Thorez, secretary of the Communist Party, M. Perec-, the film producer and M. Epstein, editor of the newspaper “L’Ordre.”

•The Berne correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that the German Ambassador in Paris (Herr Abetz) is going *to Vichy to see Marshal Petain regarding M. Laval. A Vichy message says- that Herr Abetz, accompanied by seven; experts and an; escort of nine soldiers, has arrived at Vichy and visited M. Flandin. Marshal Petain. will receive Herr Abetz to-morrow and later there will be a State luncheon. After this He/rr Abetz will return to Paris.

M. Laval will be charged with attempting a coup d’etat against the Chief of the French State, states the Berne correspondent of the “New York Times.” M. Laval placed his own men in important pests, suggesting that with the aid' of friends abroad and clients at home, he might succeed! in getting a definite hold on the Government and even eliminating Marshal Petain.