RECALLED FOR CONSULTATION

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 173, 18 April 1942, Page 7

RECALLED FOR CONSULTATION

U.S. Ambassador To Vichy

CABINET MEETING

LONDON, April 17

Marshal Petain’s Cabinet met in Vichy this morning for the last time. At this meeting, Vichy radio stated, Petain accepted the resignations of all his colleagues.

It is also reported from Vichy that in future Petain will not preside at the Cabinet meetings, and that Pierre Laval, as Prime Minister, will take his place. After this morning’s Cabinet meeting a communique was issued stating that Admiral Darlan has agreed to take the command of the land, sea and air. forces. The communique also described Darlan as the designated successor to Petain as Chief of the French State.

Laval is expected to announce in a few hours the new Cabinet he has drawn up in consultation with the Germans. He presented the list to Petain yesterday after his visit to Paris, when he had talks with the Vichy, representative in occupied France, Count de Brinon, the archFascists Deat and Doriot, and others. The Vichy news agency says that the Cabinet reconstruction will be farreaching and will affect measures as well as men.

A message from Washington says that the United States Ambassador in Vichy, Admiral Leahy, is to be recalled for consultation. The respective Charges d’Affaires in Vichy and Washington will take over in the Embassies in the meantime, the message adds, thus suggesting that the French Ambassador in Washington is also returning home. The American Under-Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, is expected to give a full report on the French developments to his Cabinet.' Mr. Welles told the Press yesterday that the American Consular officials in unoccupied France had renewed their suggestions to the United States citizens in France to return home, but this was the routine rather than an extraordinary move. The French Ambassador, M. Henri Haye, had a conference with Mr. Welles for an hour yesterday. Afterward he told reporters that he had informed Mr. Welles that the American Note regarding the Consulate in Free French Africa was unacceptable to Vichy. He added, “Mr. Welles rejected our objection, and said that he could not accept Vichy’s viewpoint.” M. Haye also discussed with Mr. Welles the general situation in France.

FRENCH FLEET AT TOULON

Seaworthy Units (Received April 17, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 17. The most seaworthy units of the French fleet, including the battleships Dunkerque, Strasbourg and Provence and the heavy cruisers Algerie, Colbert, Foch and Dupleix, and the seaplane tender Commandant Teste, are concentrated at Toulon, says the "Daily Telegraph.” The Provence and the Dunkerque were both badly damaged by a British squadron' at Oran in July, 1940, and the Dunkerque is believed to be still under repair. The battleship Richelieu is lying crippled at Dakar, where there are also three cruisers. The Richelieu’s sister-ship, the Jean Bart, incomplete, and without her main armament, is at Casablanca. The aircraft-carrier Bearn, the light cruisers Emile Berlin and Jeanne d’Arc arebel ieved to be under American surveillance at Martinique and Guadelupe.

OBEYING MASTER’S VOICE

Laval’s Ruthless Task

(British Oiiicial Wireless.) (Received April 17, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, April 16. The manner in which Hitler lias “cracked the whip” to bring the Vichy Government to heel and enforce the predominance of Pierre Laval in the Petain administration is felt here to reflect some measure of Nazi uneasiness regarding- their maximum success in the spring offensive campaign in Russia. Continental reports have been received recently of the acute problem of manpower iu Germany, and little doubt exists that Laval would be willing to take measures to speed up French industry to assist the Nazis to maintain the supply of munitions. It is likely that Laval would agree to "persuasive” pressure being exerted to send French workers to fill gaps in the German factories, and he might even go as far as attempting to obey bis master’s orders and send I'reach troops to fight on the Russian front. Asset of Hatred. The “Manchester Guarian” sums up Laval’s position in stating: "He and bis master have identical interests, for if Hitler wins Laval may expect some prize or recognition, whereas, if he loses, Laval’s career is over. Laval has obvious qualifications; he may bo trusted to use all the necessary pressure to provide a policy and administrative services that are ready for any crime against justice or liberty. His skill in intrigue and his’freedom from scruple or compunction are all valuable qualities for this purpose. "Even his unpopularity may have advantages in Hitler’s eyes. A man who is so hated has nothing to hope for or fear from anybody, except the master lie serves. Hitler, in throwing his strength against Russia, and being reduced to holding occupied France witli inferior troops, will know that Viehv France is in the hands of ir man who will do whatever can lie done by ruthlessness to disarm the discontent.”