Marshal Petain's Difficulties

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 270, 2 November 1940, Page 7

Marshal Petain's Difficulties

Full Appreciation in London COMBATING SURRENDER OF TERRITORY (British. Official Wireless.) ■ Received Friday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, Oct. 31. There is full afipreciation in authoritative quarters in .London of the difficulties with which Marshal Retain is eonironted in his efforts to secure an amelioration for the French people of the crushing burdens cast upon them by the terms imposed by Germany. A measure of these difficulties emerged to some extent in Marshal Petain's broadcast recently. One of the outstanding hardships under which the French people suffer concerns the expenses of tho German occupation which amount to 400,000,000 francs daiJy—a figure JUt ot all proportion to anything asked for from the Germans at the end of the last war.

Better arrangements for the demarcation of occupied and unoccupied France and some betterment in tho lot or release of French prisoners in German hands are other alleviations which it is clear aro shown by Marshal Retain in the proposed collaboration with tho Germans. It is apparently hoped that the results of this collaboration will become known in the course of tho next week or so.

Meanwhile there is a disinclination here to accept the accuracy of reports that the Vichy Government contemplates large surrenders of territory in metropolitan France or in the French overseas empire and concessions to Germany which would amount to a betrayal of France ’a ally. Confidence that the honour of France will be upheld by the aged? marshal in these negotiations is expressed by General Weygand. On October 30 the Tangier newspaper Depeche Marocaine published the following from Rabat: “Certain foroign radio stations have broadcast reports of France having accepted terms incompatible with her national honour. The Residency-General has received from the French Government information which permits it to affirm that the said reports are devoid of all foundation. “Tho following message addressed yesterday to General Nogues by General Weygand, the delegate of the French Government in French Africa, has forcefully confirmed the above: “General Weygand warns the people of French Africa against hasty and tendentious foreign reports concerning tho attitude and orders of the French Government. I a3k all governors and resi-dents-general to warn their people immediately in this sense. Nothing contrary to the honour or interests of Franco and her peoples who have entrusted themselves to her have been or could be agreed to by a Government headed by Marshal Petain.” In London this expression of views by General Weygand is taken as a further indication of the wide divergence between the attitude of General Weygand and Marshal Petain on tho one hand and M. Laval on the other.