A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 174, 20 April 1942, Page 4

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Laval Regains Power CONTROL OF FORCES REMAINS OBSCURE After more than a year in the background following his attempted betrayal of his chief, the veteran Marshal Petain, to the Germans, Pierre Laval, probably the most unscrupulous aud ambitious politician France has known in modern years, Is back in power at Vichy. He will no doubt take speedy, If cunningly concealed, steps to lead his unhappy country into that state of close collaboration with the Axis for which he has been intriguing, in power and out, ever since the armistice at the end of June, 1940. ‘ While the aged Marshal, who still remains titular head of France’s rulers, would probably be best pleased by a compromise peace between Germany and her enemies—a jjeace which would allow freedom for the regeneration of France in accord with his austere ideas Pierre Laval is an out-and-out wellwisher of the Germans, aud earnestly hopes for their complete victory so that he could then rule his country in the full Nazi fashion. To this end he will uo doubt make every endeavour to bring Into active warfare against France’s former ally, Britain, aud against her former sincere friend, the United States, such military, naval aud air power as remains to her and can be built up. Position Of Darlan

For the present, however, it has uot been made clear in the official announcements from Vichy what power over France’s war potential has passed to Laval. Admiral Darlan, by special decree, has been given supreme command of the land, sea and air forces, and the decree makes him responsible only to the Chief of State, Marshal Petain. This would appear to keep from Laval's control the things he probably most desires, but till the situation develops it cannot be said bow far Marshal Petain will be strong enough to resist Laval, backed as he will undoubtedly be by all the force and intrigue Hitler can bring to bear. Admiral Darlan's only claim to prominence in the affairs of his country lies In his control of the armed forces; without them he would be a political -nonentity. It is not likely, therefore, that he will relinquish that control without a fight. There is a suggestion that under the new political line-up the Defence Ministers in the Cabinet remain under Darlan’s contiol, even though he himself is not in the Cabinet. If this is so, Laval cannot at present exercise any influence in the forces, but the appointment of a new commander of the French forces in Africa, Admiral Collinet, may later throw some light in this direction. The New Cabinet

In choosing his Ministers, M. Laval has carefully avoided including any of the most violent protagonists of collaboration with the Axis aiid has filled the posts for the most part with political nonentities, so much so that even the most experienced political observers know very little of many of them. Count de Brinon, who has been so intriguing with Laval in Paris while acting as Vichy Ambassador to the Forces of Occupation, has not the most savoury of reputations. His pro-Nazi views during the period between September, 1939, and the Fall of France were such that be thought it advisable to remain in safety in Switzerland, and since the 1940 armistice he has been most active in furthering Hitler’s designs on the resources of prostrate France. What The Change Means

When Marshal Petain and his weakkneed associates concluded the armistice with Germany they probably honestly thought—or most of them honestly thought—that the most France" would have to endure would be partial occupation till the war ended either for or against Germany, and that after that her rehabilitation iu a poorer condition, probably shorn of some of her colonies, would be possible. It is clear now that if the Marshal thought this, he was lost. He has been forced to take back into the control of his Cabinet a cunning and evil man—an American magazine once said of Laval that the only white thing about him was the white tie he .invariably wears—and after his experience with him at. the end of 1940 cannot but realize that if Laval can sell him, he will. Thus one stage in the degeneration of France has ended and another begins. The period of grudging acquiescence with German importunities has ended and the period of more willing conformation is likely to begin, and its most interesting phase will be the fight between Laval and Darlan for control of the military forces. On this depends France’s future, but one thing Laval will have to consider, even if he caii master Darlan, is the French man iu the street. If he cuiyiot win over the French people, the great proportion of whom detest, the Get mans and long for Allied victory—as instanced by the reported civilian revolt in St. Nazaire when, the commando raid was mistaken for a major invasion—M. Laval is likely to need most urgently that armoured waistcoast he is stated, to have worn ever since a patriot’s bullet, reached him during an inspection of the French contingent leaving for the Russian front last year.