Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1942. AFTER TWO YEARS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1942, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1942. AFTER TWO YEARS.

pRANCE has had two years’ experience of German occupation of most of her territory, and rnnst regret the premature signing’ of the armistice, which ended the fighting on her soil but brought her people continuous and greater suffering. Any hopes entertained by Marshal Petain and his colleagues that surrender would give France a chance to recover from defeat, have been shattered by subsequent events. France is worse off than she would have been had she continued fighting, even had the fortunes of war continued to go against her. Xot only do the French endure much from the Germans, but her friends, the British, have to destroy her northern factories ami bases, now used by the enemy. France has lost almost everything, including honour, through the Petain-Laval defeatist policy, and her only hope of recovery is in an AngloF.S.A. victory.

Petain in his broadcast, this week, made strange claims, demonstrating his own senility and unfitness to speak for his countrymen. Semi-starving and en-emy-harassed Frenchmen would not relish his statement that their sufferings were diminishing, and that the period of expiation had ended. Laval is to broadcast in a day or two. and it will be interesting to note tvhat story he will present. Since his regaining of power, Laval has done little to warrant the sensational predictions from Allied circles that he would actively assist Ihe Nazis, although he is frank' about his desire lor lull collaboration with the conquerors. Laval is either being kept in check, or is double-crossing the Nazis. Petain recently declared that there was complete unity between himself and Laval, but did not state in which direction this mutual policy went. Meanwhile, Hie Nazis have not secured use of the French fleet and North African bases, nor have the Italians taken possession of Corsica and the French Piiverina. In occupied France, and (‘specially in Paris, it is clear there is increasing antiGerman feeling, sabotage goes on. and when there is any “collaboration, ’ it is mainly involuntary on the French people's part. Should the Allies second front be in France, it will find the inhabitants benevolently neutral, if not active ly assisting, and this goodwill must lessen the difficulties of the Allied forces. Incidents such as the lone British plane’s daring flight through the centre of Paris, ami the commando raids, on the coast, must impress the French people giving them assurances of British resolution ami strength, and reviving their own hopes of national salvation- I .S.A. influence is still, strong in some French administrative circles, although little is heard about this aspect of international relations. France has had a painful experience, ami it must be many years before she can regain her former status among the Powers. She Ims been down ami almost mH. but there are signs that her worst era is passing. Petain ami Laval can take none ot any credit due. and their present power is approaching its end.