RULE IN FRANCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 10, 11 July 1940, Page 11

RULE IN FRANCE

VOTE IN ASSEMBLY ]

NEW CONSTITUTION

REFERENDUM DECISION

LONDON, July 10.

The French National Assembly met in secret session this afternoon at Vichy to vote on the resolution giving full power to the Petain Goy ernment to change the Constitution of France. It is reported that a. statement on the Petain Government's proposals was given to the National Assembly by M. Laval. The National Defence Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate unanimously approved a resolution asking the. Government to investigate the, responsibility for, Origin, and conduct of the war. Later it was reported that the first result of the secret session is that the new Constitution, when drafted, will be submitted to the people for their approval by referendum: The text of the Constitution Bill is reported to be as follows: —"The "National Assembly gives all powers toi the Government of the Republic under the authority and signature of .Marshal Petain for the purpose of promulgating, by one or more Acts, the" new Constitution of the French State." This means that the Petain. Government is given a free, hand to rule as it chooses.' , . The voting on the resolution was '569 for and 80 against, and -15 of those present did not vote. The Prime Minister, Marshal Petain, was not present. He sent a message asking to be .excused from attending. In his message he agreed that the Constitution should be submitted to the people of.France, and the Assembly agreed to this. . There is.no indication how the refer) endum will be conducted, stated ..a " London commentator. There is no in-' dication whether it will cover the whole of France or only the non« occupied territory. ■ Before the proceedings began the President of the Assembly read letters and telegrams from members excuskig their absence. When M. Daladier'r name was read some members of the extreme Right defended him, also aii other Deputy, in a violent speech.

The preamble to the resolution stated that in the cruellest moment, of-its his tory France must accept the necessity for a National Government, which must have all power to save what could be saved and destroy what could b< destroyed, and that the nation must take its place under the Continental system of production and exchange. France must return primarily to hei agricultural and peasant character. Thi preamble makes it clear that the new Constitution was made in Rome aric Berlin.

There are already many proofs thai the Petain Government is really undei German control, and' decrees which are being issued appear to have beer, drawn up first in Germany, in German and are so involved that translation intf French makes them almost unintel ligible. ' . •■