STRUGGLE WITH GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 9

STRUGGLE WITH GERMANY

New Crisis For Vichy REPORTED WARNING BY PETAIN Strained Situation (By Press Assn. —Copy right. > LONDON, February 4. Following the dispatch in the weekend of a Note from Herr Hitler to Marshal Petain, Chief of the French State, which it was conjectured in some quarters contained demands for military and naval concessions, and coincident with discussions that are taking place in Paris with the Vichy Naval Minister, Admiral Darlan, there are reports of a crisis in Franco-German relations. Darlan was to have seen Herr Abetz, Hitler s representative in Paris. The admiral is also reported to have had an interview there with M. Pierre Laval. So far no official statement has been issued bv Vichy, but the German official news agency says that general policies of the French nation were discussed. Reports indicate that the question of the readmission of Laval to the Vichy Government, the future of the French fleet, and the new political party in occupied France may have been included in the talks. Laval has not been mentioned as in the party’s leadership. It is believed he may return to Vichy today with Darlan. The Lisbon correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph yesteiday said it was authoritatively stated that Petain has told Hitler that the French fleet and colonies would re-enter the war on Britain s side if the Germans take over unoccupied France. _ . Petain’s statement, the correspondent said, was in reply to a German Note demanding: (1) Bizerta. (2) A passage for troops to Matseilles or to Toulon. (3) The transport of troops and war material to Bizerta in French ships, with a verbal warning of a threatened occupation of unoccupied France in the event of rejection. . It is conjectured, he added, that Hitler may alternatively attempt to seize Bizerta, using all Italy’s available warships, covered by the Luftwaffe. FORMS OF NAZI PRESSURE. From other sources today there are rumours that the German pressure on Petain will take many forms. It is even suggested that the marshal has received a 24-hour ultimatum. The most concrete expression of the situation is that there is a threat to create an entirely new France —a Quislingist France—-begin-ning with the committee of the Rassemblement National Populaire and with M. Laval as head of the State in fact if not by name. The widespread popular suspicions against such a puppet committee both in France and the colonies will probably restrain Hitlei from openly moving in this direction. The Lyons (Petain-controlled) radio today declared that the supporters of the Rassemblement comprise men who have been ceaselessly opposed to Petain’s Government. From Vichy it is reported that Darlan’s conversations will produce a reshuffle in the leadership, establishing a quadrumvirate of Laval, M. Baudouin. Darlan, and General Huntziger under Petain.

LONDON, February 3. Petain had several interviews at Vichy today with M. Baudouin, who has been the subject of recent German a ttacks. It is also reported from Vichy that Admiral Leahy, the American Ambassador, has asked M. Flandin for information about reports that Japan is trying to extend her air force and naval privileges in Indo-China. The Vichy “Journal” published an interview with Darlan stating that the French Fleet mil remain under complete French jurisdiction and will defend itself and the Empire against challenge from any quarter. The Lyons radio has broadcast an appeal for young Frenchmen to enlist in the French navy, and to register with the Ministry of Marine at Vichy. France, it said, had never been prouder of its navy than it was today, and though its personnel had been cut down, the defence of the empire demanded an increased naval effort. Nazis Suspect Weygand. The first open expression of German Press suspicion of General Weygand’s activities in North Africa comes from the newspaper “Das Reich,” which "The British offensive in Libya is affecting the neighbouring French possessions, especially as the population displays little understanding of reality of France’s defeat. Many French colonial and military authorities maintain that France, but not the French Empire, has been defeated. French airmen continue to desert to General de Gaulle. “General Weygand has received from Marshal Petain an unusual degree of authority and freedom of action. In the meantime General Weygand has strengthened his own authority and is ready, if necessary, to act independently of Vichy. He has reorganized all the military powers of the French empire. “All the circumstances lead to the necessity of watching with suspicion General Weygand’s ambiguous measures.” It is commonly believed in London that Hitler’s immediate desires from France are, first, possession of France’s Mediterranean ports, together with the French fleet, and, second, control of Bizerta. Darlan’s statement that the French fleet will remain under complete French jurisdiction and will defend itself and the French empire against challenge from any quarter has not been repudiated and therefore it is assumed that Petain rejects the German naval demands. Petain might be obliged, however, to concede the readmission of Laval into the Government. Laval’s Hopes. Laval has given Hitler a pretty clear indication that he is ready to baud over the French fleet and anything else Hit ler desires. Nothing indicates that Petain is willing to go to this length, and this explains the new German pressure on the Vichy Government. Meanwhile, following upon bitter criticism of Vichy by the Germancontrolled Press of Paris, the inauguration is announced of the National Popular Movement, which is believed in some quarters is to prepare the way fo. the establishment of a puppet Government. The first meeting of this movement was held on Saturday under German auspices and inspiration. The phraseology in which its professed aims are expressed is 100 per cent. Nazi. As stated by the German-con-trolled Paris radio, it seeks to establish a single political party to advocate the “integration” of France in Europe and bring about a “national revolution.” Race purity is prominent among the aims enumerated. Absorption in “New Order.” Ender the heading “Quisling for France,” the “Manchester Guardian” says: “Hitler, dissatisfied with the way in which Marshal Petain interprets collaboration, has decided to form a French party for which that term will mean what it means to him. Franca is to be absorbed into the ‘new order.’ She is to adhere her resolution to Hitler’s ideas and co-operate with Ger-

many in exploiting Africa.” After drawing attention to Marshal Petain’s resistance to Hitler’s demands, the “Manchester Guardian” says: “It is difficult to think that the French nation will be more ready than Norway or the Netherlands to accept a party formed by the Nazis. No doubt Hitler can punish resistance: France is at his mercy. But nobody who knows French history will believe that the spirit of the French people can be cowed by such methods. On the contrary, everything that is known about France today goes to show that there the spirit is reviving. It is too early to attempt to forecast all the consequences of this most important event.” Tonight the German-controlled Brussels radio said it was impossible to reach agreement so long as Vichy did not remove the actual causes of misunderstanding. One of these causes, German-inspired sources contend, is the failure of the Vichy authorities to take Laval back into the fold. These sources suggest that only with Laval’s co-operation can France’s future role in Europe be determined.