UNREST IN FRANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 September 1940, Page 4

UNREST IN FRANCE

NATIONAL PRIDE REVIVING. LONDON, September 2. A revival of the spirit of independence and of pride in nationality lately has been observed in both occupied and unoccupied France, where seemingly the people are emerging from a kind of nightmare, which followed the shattering news of the capitulation to Germany. ■ A special correspondent of the “Daily Mail,” writing from Spain after spending 10 days in occupied France, says that, despite German propaganda, the French nation remains anti-German and pro-British. He quotes the following observations by an American newspaper correspondent: “Paris is marvellous, though it is too sad for me to stay in. See how Parisians are standing up to the .invader with calm, quiet dignity. Nightly they gather in each other’s houses, with doors and windows closed to listen to the 8.8. C. Their only pleasure is to hear the exploits of your wonderful Air Force. None of them believe the German figures.” Outward demonstrations of loyalty are beginning to follow the tone and , model set by the Czechs —quiet but seemingly spontaneous gestures em- , phasising national solidarity, of which the latest manifestation was an outburst of tricolour ribbons of blue,

white and red flowers worn by Parisians. The Germans promptly instructed the controlled .French newspapers to discourage the practice, and as, a result, “La France au Travail” obediently described the demonstration as being in the worst possible taste. > It may be only a coincidence that ; this demonstration coincided with the visit of the Vice-Premier of France, ! M. Laval, to Paris, to . confer with Herr Otto Abetz, who collaborates with the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop. At any rate, it is plain to French experts that, as. the politicallyconscious and politically-educated French public awakeris from their daze, they are beginning to sort out political manoeuvres and alignments, in which M. Laval cuts an increasingly sorry figure. What cynical, realistic French observers are now awaiting is some open manifestation of M. Laval’s own misgivings about the possibility of having backed the wrong horse. In other words, they await the “ratting” of M. Laval “and other patriots” in the Petain Government, which probably will take the form of a temporary retirement to allow less astute and less experienced politicans like’ the Foreign Minister, M. Baudouin, to | take .perhaps greater risks of being wrong, until it is ■ seen which way the cat is jumping. ?