FREEDOM GONE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 162, 10 July 1940, Page 7

FREEDOM GONE.

PRANCE'S NEW ORDER. Nazis Force Destruction Of Democratic Rights. PETAIN AS DICTATOR. United Press Association—Copyright. •f/• "•? ".(Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, July 9. j , French Deputies are reported to have approved the draft of the Constitution Bill by 395 votes to 3. M. Reynaud attended the Chamber with his head in bandages, making his first public appearance since his accident. The Senate passed the bill by 225 J votes to 1. Tlio text of the Constitution Bill reads: "The National Assembly gives all powers to the Government under [Marshal Petaiirs signature and authority, in effect promulgating the , new constitution of the French State, twhich as at present constituted cannot [ guarantee the rights of labour, the family and the fatherland. The new [constitution will be ratified by the assemblies it creates."

The Petain Government last night approved plans for the revision of the constitution. The proposals were introduced by M. Laval into both Houses of Parliament. This was the first meeting of the French Parliament since disaster overtook France, aiid ended the period of freedom and progress. The new constitution, it is understood, will involve the replacement of the President, M. Albert Lebrun, by Marshal Petain—whom the Germans liavo already designated the Fuehrer of the French Reich—and the government of the country by a triumvirate comprising General Weygand, M. Laval, and M. Adrien Marquet. The bill, comments "The Times,will place France in the absolute power of Hitler. But France will be Fascist rather than Nazi. France's resources will be absorbed into the German war machine. French industrialists will produce arms for Germany, and French agriculturists will grow food for that country. Franco will become a nation of peasant agriculturists, while Germany will be the great industrial power of Europe. The rest of the Continent is to bo her colonial territory. The "New York Times" comments that stopgap decisions of the Petain Government are no longer natural or permanent.

FRANCE'S WAR GUILT.

Berlin Radio's Allegation Against M. Bonnet. DALADIER ALSO INVOLVED. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, July 9. Berlin radio, commenting 011 France's war guilt, disclosed that M. Bonnet made a statement in the French Chamber of Deputies on diplomatic events since September 1, last year. M. Bonnet (who was Foreign Minister in the Daladier Cabinet) allegedly said that he agreed with the Italian proposals to hold a conference 011 September 1 for settling the Gcrman-Polisli conflict. - The idea was dropped, it is alleged, because of British and Polish opposition and the demand that Germany evacuate Polish territory. The radio added that SI. Bonnet must himself be judged guilty. He and M. Daladiir finally decided on continuation of the war despite their own better knowledge, and thus they became tools of British plutocracy. Their compliance is their crime which their later conversion cannot absolve. Had France listened to the voice of her conscience the war would never have broken out.