THE FATE OF FRANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 6

THE FATE OF FRANCE

The plenipotentiaries sent by the new Government of France, of which Marshal Petain is the head, to seek peace from the invaders, are meeting the x German representatives today. Where it is not stated, nor is it yet known what the German terms may be, and whether they will be accepted, whatever they are> M. Baudouin, Foreign Minister in the new Cabinet, has declared that France will not accept anything but an "honourable" peace, and Frenchmen overseas have generally supported this attitude. The French radio re-emphasises"" France's determination not to capitulate unconditionally, adding, "France will continue to fight on the side of the Allies if Germany presents unacceptable conditions." On the other hand, the French envoys include representatives of the three Services—the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force— as well as a diplomatic representative, and it may be that they, taking a desperate view of the situation, will elect to bow to "force majeure." The fate of France is in their hands. They may decide that further resistance is impossible, or they may deem anything preferable to the harsh conditions presented to them. Meanwhile there is no armistice, and the fight goes on. The Germans have entered Lyons, the third city of France in respect of population, and are spreading over the country elsewhere, towards Nantes at the mouth of the Loire and across the upper Loire into Central France. Resistance seems to be strongest on both sides of the Maginot Line. The new Government has left Bordeaux, which had been subjected to severe attacks from the air, for a destination unknown at the time of writing. The city, like the rest of Southern France, is filled with refugees from the invaded areas, and many are seeking refuge in Spain. It may be said here that this exodus of refugees has been throughout the campaign a most serious military j problem for the defenders of France and-no doubt weighed with the new Government in the action it has taken in the direction of peace. Marshal Petain, the octogenarian veteran of the Great War, famous as the hero of Verdun, and now entrusted by the President with the heavy duty of making peace with the invaders, gave his reasons, in a broadcast last night, why France had been forced to seek an armistice. This was his summing up: They were not so strong as they were twenty-two years ago; they had fewer friends, too few children, too few arms, and too few allies. In the years since victory the spirit of pleasure had prevailed over the spirit of sacrifice. The population had demanded more than they had given. That was why misfortune had come. It is a tragic message, but the French people as a whole, we feel sure, will not accept this interpretation of the situation as final, however great their respect and affection for this hero of another age. The years have told their tale and there is more of the spirit of the debacle of 1870-71 about it than of 1914-18, when the defenders of Verdun held to their motto "They shall not pass." That reveals still the truer spirit of

France,