NO ENEMY TROOPS

Grey River Argus, 6 February 1941, Page 5

NO ENEMY TROOPS

Entering Unoccupied France BRITISH PRESS COMMENTS. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] BERLIN. February 4. The News Agency’s correspondent at Vichy say? it is officially and emphatically denied that German troops are advancing into unoccupied France. I ON DON, February 4. Yesterday Admiral Darlan met M. Laval in Paris. The Vichy Government has not issued an official statement about the meeting, and the Official German News Agency says that the general policy of FrenchGerman relations was discussea. The German-controlled Brussels radio stated that the visit of Admiral Darlan to Faris is inopportune. It declares that it will be impossible to reach an understanding with the Vichy Government with it s present personnel The cause of the misunderstanding, it was hinted, was the failure to take M. Laval back into the field. Only with the inclusion of M. Laval could an understanding b ( > reached with France. M. Laval’s name, however. is not mentioned in the membership of the new pro-German party recently formed in Paris. The new party was denounced yesterday by the Lyon radio, which stated it had no connection with the party, of national reconstruction organised by Marshal Petain. Tne list-of members, the radio declared, included the names of men who had carelessly opposed Marsha! Retain, and also th? names of Cagoulards, members of th e secret society of hooded men, which wa s suppressed by th? French Government in 1937. On'y scanty, independent information is available in London regard ng the development of relation? between the Vichv Government and Get many. It is reported that. Admiral Darlan carried a reply to the communication sent by Heir Hitler to Marshal Petain

Reports state that Herr Hitlers communication was of threatening character, and that in it reference was made to the Mediterranean situation, with special (reference to. Tunis. There is, however, no specific information as to the German intentions or Vichy’s reply, but the possibility ’hat a? a result of Admiral Darlans visit the question of the return to power of M. Lava: Win be settled is discussed in press reports reaching London. Meanwhile, following the bitter criticism of Vichy by the Germancontrolled press of Paris, the inauguration i? announced of a movement which is believed in som e quarters to prepare the way for Ute establishment of a puppet Government. The first meeting of this movement, was held on Saturday under German auspices and inspiration. The phraseology in which’its professed aims are expressed is 100 per cent. Nazi. As stated by the German-controlled Paris radio, it seeks to' establish a single political party to advocate the “integration” of France in Europe and to bring about a “national revolution.” Race purity is prominent among the aims enumerated. Under the heading “Quisling for France,” the “Manchester Guardin’’ states that Herr Hiller, dissatisfied with the wav in which Marshall Petain interprets collaboration, has decided to form a French party for the “Quislings.” That term (collaboration) will mean what it means to him. France is to be absorbed into the “new order.” She is to adhere to Herr Hitler’s ideas, and to cooperate with Germany in exploiting Africa . After drawing attention to Marshal Petain’s resistance to Herr Hitler’s demands, the _ “Manchester Guardian” states “It is difficult to th’nk that the French nation will be more ieadv than Norway or lhe Netherlands to accept a party formed by the Nazis. No doubt Hitler can punish resistance. Franc P is at his mercy, but. nobodv who knows French history wil' believe that the spTit of the French people can be cowed by such methods On the contrary every'in no that is known about Franco to-day goes to show thn* her spirit is reviving, but it is too early to attempt to forecast all the consequences of this most important event.”