TRIAL OF FRENCH EX-MINISTER OPENS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 178, 29 July 1940, Page 7

TRIAL OF FRENCH EX-MINISTER OPENS.

WAR SCAPEGOAT.

Petain Government Orders Inquiry. OTHER POLITICIANS WATCHED United Press Association.— Copyright. (Received noon.) LONDON, July 28. The British United Press Viehy correspondent says the Military Court has opened the inquiry into the activities of M. Mandel, former Colonial Minister, on orders of the Petain Government.

It is reliably stated that the inquiry involves charges that M. Mandel attempted to communicate with Mr. Duff Cooper and General Viscount Gort against the interests of France, which is punishable with death.

Mr. Duff Cooper and General Gort allegedly arrived at Casablanca in a seaplane and eought contact with M. Mandel, who was aboard the French liner Massilia. The French authorities are reported to have ordered the seaplane to leave. M. Mandel was held aboard the Massilia.

The Court is believed to be seeking to determine whether M. Mandel planned to fly to England and join General de Gaulle and his followers.

The former Prime Minister, M. Daladier, is reported to be held incommunicado at his Marseilles hotel.

M. Reynaud, who replaced M. Daladier as Premier, is under house arrest near Vichy.

M. Campinchi, former Minister of the Navy, and M. Delbos, former Minister of Education, are under strict surveillance in North Africa.

It was reported from Vichy earlier lhat General de Gaulle, head of the French National Committee in London, has filed an appeal against the courtmartial sentences imposed, on him.

Immediately after his action in broadcasting an appeal to Frenchmen urging them to join him in carrying on the fight against Germany in alliance with Great Britain, the Petain Government announced that General de. Gaulle had been relieved of his military command and would be court-martialled and charged with refusing to return to his poet and with addressing an app?al to French soldiers from foreign territory.