HERRIOT ARREST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 234, 3 October 1942, Page 5

HERRIOT ARREST

ACTION BY VICHY Confined To Residence Near Lyons Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 2. Berlin radio announced thi:t M. Herriot. was arrested by order of the Vichy Government. It is reported from France that the prefect Of the Rhone Department asked M. Herriot for his word of honour that he would not leave France. M. Herriot is reported to have answered: "You Insult me. Tell your masters I am not obliged to give any pledges. I have only one thought— to serve France. How I do so does not roncern you." Within 24 hours M. Herriot was arrested and confined to his residence near Lyons.

Renter's correspondent on the French frontier says that the Alsatian members of the Alsace Lorraine section of the Vichy Ministry of Justice have resigned as a protest against the passive attitude of the Government towards the German measures against Alsatians in the recent German order incorporating Alsatians in the German army and compelling Alsatian youth to Join the Hitler movement.

It Is believed that the reason for the move is that Laval handed over to the Germans more than 5000 French locomotives and 230,000 railway trucks. Germany demanded 1500 more locomotives equipped for low temperatures.

Edouard Herriot, veteran politician and a former Prime Minister of France, was president of the Chamber of Deputies which Laval Is reported to have suppressed. At the beginning of September hp nnd Senator Jules Jeanneney. president of the Senate, also suppressed, sent a Joint letter to Petaln and Laval, accusing F'etoln of assuming unlimited dictatorship. The lottnr said: "Without the authorisation of Parliament, you try to draw France into war against our Allies, which you your-i'lf stated that honour forbade. We, by this letter, protest In advance in 'he name of our national sovereignty. Our country will not follow you alonn the path you arc trying to take." A few days later It was stated that M. Herriot sent to the Chancellor of the Order of the Lesion of Honour his resignation from the Order, in which he was knighted by Clemcncenu In the last war. He gave as the reason for his action the fact that the honour had been awarded posthumously to Jwo officers killed In Russia under German command.