FRENCH UN WORTHINESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 22, 24 December 1942, Page 2

FRENCH UN WORTHINESS

THE GERMAN ESTIMATE

Rec. 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 23 Laval on his return to Vichy described his meeting with Hitler as entirely satisfactory. The German spokesmen, however, continue to dismiss Laval with scant courtesy, declaring that France has not yet proved herself worthy to join the New Europe.

The German Transocean Agency declared that Berlin does not attach far-reaching significance to Laval's visit. The Berliner Boersen Zeitung said: The French must first realise what real suffering is before they can expect an internal revolution on true resurgence. The Times diplomatic correspondent savs: All this is part of a new war of nerves in an attempt to frighten the French into collaboration. It is, however, also a sign that the Germans recoginso the strength of the resistance their unproparcdncss to deal with the French situation, while burdened elsewhere. From unofficial reports from Germany, says the Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent, it may bo concluded that Laval was able to convince Hitler, at lea.st for the time being, that Franco has more to offer Germany than has Mussolini. The correspondent says that Laval also insisted that Italy's territorial claims at the expense of France could not be satisfied. Laval doubtless put forward the argument that a .French Administration working on a basis of goodwill would bo cheaper than one based on coercion.