VICHY CHANGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1941, Page 5

VICHY CHANGES

DARLAN AS DEFENCE MINISTER , NO POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT LONDON, August 12. The latest news from yichy gives no indication that any decision was reached by the Vichy Cabinet when it met yesterday, and there are no reliable reports of the Cabinet’s attitude to the German demands for bases in the French Empire. Hirits have been given in Vichy That no announcement of any decision about foreign policy should be expected in the near future. Shortly before the meeting, an unofficial Vichy spokesman said that special attention would be paid to the attitude that France was to adopt towards the French African Empire. It is reported that Marshal Petain and General Weygand were showing some hesitation in accepting the German demands, but that Admiral Darlan was urging their acceptance in their entirety. Beyond the fact that there is considerable activity in Vichy there is little definite information in London to indicate what course Nazi and Vichy collaboration is likely to take in the immediate future. Recent Nazi pronouncements lead some observers to believe, than an announcement of some kind can be expected shortly. The Nazis’ statement that General Weygand “is now subject to decisions taken by Admiral Darlan,” coupled with a Berlin report that M. Georges Bonnet, a former Minister, who “has always pressed Marshal Petain to collaborate with Germany,” has gone to Vichy, influences the belief in some quarters that Vichy’s counter-propos-als ‘relate to granting facilities to the Nazis to use Bizerte. This would give opportunities for further Nazi action in North Africa and at the same time is hot so likely to be regarded as a threat to American interests as would be the case if the Atlantic ports of Dakar and Casablanca were strengthened with Nazi collaboration. Mr. Roosevelt is said to be reviewing the position of French possessions in the Western Hemisphere and there is some suggestion that these might je taken over as a whole.

MORE POWER FOR DARLAN. (Rec. 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12. A Berlin radio report from Vichy states that Admiral Darlan has been appointed Minister of Defence, General Huntziger Secretary of War Affairs, and Pierre Pucheux, who was Secretary of the Interior, is now Minister of the Interior.

The changes were decided upon during the week-end talks. The report adds that Vichy political quarters attach particular importance to the latter appointment, but states the appointments are not yet officially confirmed at Vichy. The agency transmitting the report offers the opinion that Darlan as Defence Minister, with Huntziger in a minor post, appears to indicate that Darlan, who holds in his hands the reins of policy in North Africa, now has the means to execute such policy. PETAIN’S BROADCAST POLITICAL ACTIVITY BANNED (Rec. 1.35 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12. The suspension of all political activity throughout France, and the creation of a Council of Political Justice, which must submit to him by October 15, a list of those considered responsible for the fall of France, were announced by Marshal Petain in a broadcast to the French nation. He explained that the delays .in arranging Franco-German collaboration resulted from Germany being engaged in a gigantic battle in eastern Europe in defence of civilisation. “I have grave things to tell you. In an atmosphere of false rumours, and intrigues understandable uneasiness is gripping the people of France. My name is very often invoked in the attempt to justify the alleged beneficial undertakings, which are actually appeals to discipline. When war continues on the frontiers of a nation, which defeat put hors de combat, but whose empire remains vulnerable, everyone asks in anguish ‘what is the future of my country?’ “I have entrusted Admiral Darlan with the Ministry of Defence and Order. He will exert more direct control over land, sea and air forces. I appreciate the collaboration that Hitler courteously offered France, but it is a work of slow development, which has not yet borne all its fruits. “Our relations with Germany and Italy were defined in the provisional armistice. It is our wish to escape from these provisional relations, and establish a stabler bond without which European order cannot again be built up. I like to recall to the great American Republic, the reasons why she ne'ed not fear a decline in French ideals. Our parliamentary democracy, which is now dead, had few traits in common with American democracy. The instinct of freedom still lives proudly and strongly in us. Our difficulties arise from troubled minds, the lack of men and the scarcity of products. The disturbance of our ’pirit arises not only from the vicissitudes of our foreign policy but from our slowness in the construction of a new order. National revolution has not yet become a fact, because the upholders of the old regime, and the servants of trusts, raised barriers between the people and myself. A long delay is necessary for

CONQUERING THE RESISTANCE

of the adversaries to the new order, but we must break their undertakings by decimating the leaders. “France is bound by the force of events to change the old regime. If she fails, there is open at her feet an abyss whereinto Spain nearly disappeared in 1936. In the light of excellence, I will take up against egoistic blind capitalism, the struggle that the Kings of France waged and won against feudalism. I want our country freed from despicable tutelage—money. I will act rigorously against irresponsible professional organisation? led by mercenary considerations. It is scandalous that fortunes should be built up on general wretchedness. “Despite the privations of all kinds, and under difficult conditions, France’s life has been maintained since the defeat. The Government’s problem goes beyond the framework of a simple Ministerial reshuffle. It requires certain principles, rigidly upheld. Authority no longer comes from below. I delegate it, firstly, to Admiral Darlan. to whom opinion has not shown itself always' favourable and fair, but who has not ceased to help me with loyalty and courage. Marshal Petain admitted the lack of unity throughout France, and blamed’ General de Gaulle, the London radio, and certain French newspapers. He realised that France was only governable from Paris. “But I cannot return to Paris yet.” Other points in Petain’s programme include disciplinary measures against members of secret societies, restrictions on civil servants who are Freemasons, exclusion of holders of high Masonic offices from public office, doubling the notice force, appointment of special commissioners for supervising local government, abolition of salaries of Parliamentarians, abolition of Parliamentary immunity, organisation and supervision of labour. industry and agriculture, the establishment of a State economic organisation for national reconstruction, and the promulgation of a labour charter regulating relations between labour and employers.—U.P.A.

RELATIONS WITH U.S.A. GERMAN CUNNING RUSE. (Rec. 12.20 p.m.) LONDCIN, Aug. 12. The British United Press Vichycorrespondent says: Admiral Darlan, as Minister of National Empire Defence, will have the Ministers of Air, Navy, and War serving under him. The Vichy News Agency announced that decrees, being issued to-day, are expected to increase Darlan's powers, especially in the military sphere/ Another report from Vichy says the Government is expected neither flatly to reject nor completely accept the German proposals, and according to the “Teelgraph’s” Vichy correspondent, French officials are confident nothing approaching a rupture between America and France is in the air. It is believed in Washington that Germany has asked Vichy to delay the announcement of its decision on German demands.for bases in North Africa, and French collaboration in the war against Russia, until after the United States Congress finishes consideration of the Bill to extend the period of compulsory military service. The delay would be designed to avoid arousing the fears of Congress that the threat to America had increased, thus weakening the hand of the Isolationists, upon whom Hitler depends to put a very strong brake on the move of the United States towards direct involvement in the war.

It goes without saying, however, that the United States is. likely to abandon even the formality of friendly relations with Vichy, if the French accede to the German demands. Americans will unquestionably follow Mr. Roosevelt’s lead in resisting the transfer of Dakar and other strategic points on the Atlantic to the Axis. The Vichy decision, whichever way it goes, will only serve to emphasise what Americans are beginning to realise: that it is not a question, of the United States becoming involved in the war through its own volition, but of war creeping closer to the United States every day.—U.P.A. MR HULL’S COMMENT. WASHINGTON, August 12. Asked whether the granting of military concessions to Germany in French Africa might bring a rupture of relations between the United States and Vichy, Mr Cordell Hull said the question would be studied when the Vichv situation was clarified. but he indicated unusual unrest in the increased powers conferred on Darlan. He said that the United States wishes to verify and see exactly the significance thereof, before commenting on the effect on can relations.