The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, October 30, 1942. LAVAL FOILED.

Grey River Argus, 30 October 1942, Page 4

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, October 30, 1942. LAVAL FOILED.

If the natural desire of war prisoners for repatriation from Germany has induced some, trainloads of workers to leave France, the disparity between the Nazi demiands and the response only goes to emphasise the antipathy of France. AYlien accusations are occasionally levelled at the French from the Allied side, it ought not to be forgotten that atfacks on French territory, such as Madagascar, or the apprehended rcncwial of an attack on Dakar, have not persuaded the French, by one iota to side with the Axis. Laval from the outset did so, partly from an ambition that it would restore him to influence, and partly because he counted on Germany to prevail, but not so the mass of the French people. There now may indeed be. in official French quarters anxiety lest the occupation should presently h f '- extended to the' whole of the country,.but the parading even of that apprehension fails to per suade the workers of France thar they ought to risk a journey to Germany and help Hitler out of a hole on the home, front. Since early in Jul.v has Laval been endeavouring to induce one hundred and fifty thousand skilled workers to go to work in Germany. Several times has a data been fixed for completing the recruitment of these workers. The latest had been to-day, but now comes the news that the “dead line” has further been postponed until nearly the end of the year .Not one third of the number wanted have yet been secured, and it had earlier this month become for Laval an impossibility to keep the bargain he made with Hitler that twice as many more would be sent by to-day. IH-cod with this impasse, the Nazis had the alternatives of forcibly collecting workers, or making a climb-down in the face of strong French resistance, and, in particular, the determination of workers not to. comply with Ger. man wishes. When thousands oi them in the district around Lyons, which is not in enemy occupation... recently went on strike, the writing was on the Avail even though the strikers finally were induced to resume. They evidently did so Avith the anticipation that their action would not* prove to- have been in vain. They doubtless • foresaw that the Germans would not risk further intensifying French hostility, or risk troops in the endeavour forcibly to take workers away. What finally has forced the Germans openly to proclaim the failure of their levy has been the tlire'at of a general 'strike in France. This is de--1 scribed as having been an ulti-

inatuiii to which Germany had to yield, the first time she has done so since Fi'ance was defeated. It is thus manifest that the French are neither persuaded of an enemy victory nor disposed to aid towards anything of the kind. Instead, the French, have gained a moral victory, and one which may well be the forerunner of others ere long to. follow it. This example will not be lost upon any of the peoples who meantime remain under the iron, heel of the Gormans. It is a defeat for Hitler within the area of the occupation.