FRENCH MISGIVINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 40, 15 August 1941, Page 6

FRENCH MISGIVINGS

PROBABLE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS

NATION'S ABASEMENT

(By Telegraph— Press AssocUUiou—Copyright.) LONDON, August 13. The correspondent of "The Times" eta the French frontie says that Admiral Darlan has obtained nominal power sufficient -to satisfy all the Gerr man military demands without even securing the endorsement of his Cabinet. There are profound misgivings that Vichy's next step will probably provoke an international crisis of the very first magnitude. . - The French people, he says, would rejoice if the United States recognised General de Gaulle. It is assumed here .that Mr. Churchill . and ' President Roosevelt have agreed to joint action should Admiral Darlan complete France's betrayal. Commentators in London agree that active military co-operation between Vichy and Berlin " would leave all France to be dealt with by Biutain, i with millions of Frenchmen grateful and not afraid, in spite of the consequent loss of French lives. • The diplomatic co-respondent of "The Times" says that Marshal Petain and his colleagues are creating a police State based on foreign bayonets to suppress the critics of further betrayals and protect themselves against a popular upheaval. CONSPIRACY IN FRANCE. The "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent, Mr. E. B. Wareing, says travellers reveal that conspiracy is in the air in France. Furtive talks proceed in cafes in Marseilles, and at least every night three cafes are raided by the police. Occupied France and' unoccupied France have almost become different countries; the northerners do not share the hopelessness of many of the southerners. France has become very like Italy, with a new hooligan party embodying ideals which the public iocs not share. In a leading article, "The Times" says: "Marshal Petain's broadcast marked the lowest stage yet reached in the abasement of France. It remains to be seen ( what General Weygand will do if he is ordered to provide facilities for an Axis penetration of French Africa. That is a question on which the future of France depends." The Vichy news agency says that Marshal Petain has become the supreme judge of M. Daladier and the other former French war leaders. The new Council of Justice, which, the Marshal announced, is to submit to him a list of "those responsible for the fall of France," will not supersede, the Court of Riom, but will enable Marshal Petain to - take rapid action against the authors of the "disaster" before the Court of Riom gives its official judgment. Marshal Petain is not empowered to impose the death ! penalty, but his decision will not preclude subsequent imposition of the findings of the Court.