LAVAL'S LAST MESSAGE

Evening Star, Issue 25617, 18 October 1945, Page 5

LAVAL'S LAST MESSAGE

CONSCIENCE AT PEACE ALWAYS WORKED IN INTERESTS OF FRANGE LONDON, October 17. Jn his la'st statement, entitled, ' During the Death Watch,' which was hand written in his cell, and was addressed to his counsel, Laval alleged that the rapidity with which the execution was prepared was designed to silence his pen after his protests at his trial, which had been conducted to silence his voioe. " I was afraid of nothing, and would have taken a part and destroyed all the charges. I would have knocked down the evil legends one by one. I have always been fought by 'lies, but I would have 'knocked down those lies. My image—distorted to make me hated—would have given way to that of a man who shows himself with his face uncovered and whom my opponents know well. Xhat is whom they fear, whose voice they wanted to extinguish. " 1 have been represented as sly and tricky, whereas 1 always fought with the unspoiled, single intelligence of a son of the people. I have always been represented as the people's enemy, although those who know me knew it was them I defended. lam going to sleep the eternal sleep, but my conscience is at peace. • Regrets will torment, perhaps, those who not knowing me, sullied and tortured me. They will overwhelm certainly some day those who had me murdered'. 1 pity t}iem more than I hate them, for the hatred which inspired them never lodged in my heart. I weep for my family, whom I made' suffer. I hope for the country I love. She will again find some day, with a different spirit and different • leaders, the happiness and freedom which was stolen from her. I will receive death with calm, for my soul will survive. T prefer death to chains."