RIVAL PARTY IN FRANCE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 110, 3 February 1941, Page 8

RIVAL PARTY IN FRANCE

Formed Under Nazi Wing POLICY IN PARIS Full Collaboration With Germany (By Telegraph.—Presto Asbii.—Copyright.) (Received February 2, 9.15 p.m.) BARIS, February 1. The radio announced the formation of a “People’s Committee,” which is a rival to Marshal Betain’s National Union. The new committee favours full collaboration with Germany. LONDON, February 2. The formation of the new party is interpreted as Germany s latest move to strengthen her hold on France. The announcement was originally made in Berlin, and the whole scheme bears the stamp of German design. The programme envisaged for France is in line with the now familiar German aspirations in Europe, and calls for the acknowledgment of German leadership. The men chosen are well known for their pro-Nazi leanings. The party has already bitterly attacked Marshal Petain’s Foreign Minister, M. Flandin.

LONDON, January 31. Signs of inflation in France are appearing as a result of the desperate state of the public finances, says the Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” The German army of occupation costs £3,000,00P a- day, and the Vichy Government requires almost the same figure to carry on its administration. France is thus faced with the necessity for providing between £5,000,000 and £0,000.000 a day when foreign trade is disrupted and hundreds of factories are working for Germany. Consequently there has already been a universal flight from the currency.

TWO BROADCASTS

French Africa Addressed By De Gaulle And Weygand (Received February 2, 8.15 p.m.) ALGIERS, February 1. General Weygand, Vichy French administrator in Africa, in a broadcast appealed to French North Africa to collaborate loyally in the reconstruction under Marshal Petain. He warned that action would be taken against all propagandists. "We will build a new Africa in which there will be uo place for politicians,” he said. “You will hear one day from your chief. What we want from you is faith and confidence.” LONDON, January 31. General de Gaulle, the Free French leader, today made a stirring appeal to the French army in Africa to reenter the war and help to complete the conquest of Italian Libya. Speaking to the French people in a broadcast, lie spoke of the Allied victories in Libya and their effect on the spirit of resistance in France. “Everybody understands,” he went on, “that the enemy is trying at all costs to regain the advantage. Everybody understands that the great battie of the Mediterranean will suddenly increase in scope like a powder dump when it is set on lire.” General de Gaulle said the state of France was closely bound in the outcome of the great battle. If the battle were to be lost, French independence would vanish forever, and it would be the end of the Empire. If, on the other hand, the battle was won, the fate of the Axis Powers would be sealed. Indeed, the Latin sea would offer starting points for operations which would enable victories to be brought speedily to Europe and to France. He concluded with these words: “Generals, officers and men of French Africa, my comrades in arms—let us stand together. While the men under General Catroux have entered Tobruk, and the men of General de I’Arminat take Murzuk, don’t you see it is up to you to complete the conquest of Italian Libya? Are you not going to break —as we have done —for the service of France and the honour of our arms, the shameful word of inertia? Together let us fight for the most just of all wars—the war ■ !’ honour and liberation.”