Plans for New Order Announced

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 192, 14 August 1941, Page 5

Plans for New Order Announced

RELATIONS WITH AXIS United Press Association—Bv K'ecttlo Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Aug. 12. Tho suspension of all political activity throughout Franco and tue creation of a Council of Political Justice which would submit to him by October 15 a list of those considered responsible for the fall of France was announced by Marshal Petain in a broadcast to the French nation to-night. lie explained that the delays in arranging Franco-German collaboration had resulted from Germany’s being engaged in a gigantic battle in Eastern Europe in defence of civilisation. “1 have grave things to tell you," the marshal added. “In an atmosphere of false rumours and intrigues, understandable uneasiness is gripping the people of France. My name is very often invoked in an attempt to justify alleged beneficial undertakings which are actually appeals to discipline. “When the war continues on the frontiers of a nation which is defeated and put hors de combat, but whose empire remains vulnerable, everyone asks in anguish: ‘What is the future of my country? I have entrusted Admiral Darlan as Minister of Defence in order that he may exert more direct control over the land, sea and air forces. “I appreciate the collaboration Hitler has courteously offered France, but it is a work of slow developments and has not yet borne all its fruits. Relations With Axis “Our relations with Germany and Italy were defined in the provisional armistice. It is our wish to escape from these provisional relations a.nd to establish a more stable bond, without which European order cannot again be built up. “I should like to recall to the great American Republic the reasons why slie need not fear a decline in French ideals. Our parliamentary democracy, which is now dead, had few traits in common with American democracy. The instinct of freedom still lives proudly and strongly in us. Our difficulties arise from troubled minds, lack of men and scarcity of products. The disturbance of our spirit arisos not only from the vicissitudes of our foreign policy, but from our slowness in constructing the new order.

“The national revolution has not yet become a fact," Marshal Petain said, “because tho upholders of the old regime and the servants of trusts have raised barriers between the people and myself. A long delay was necessary for the purpose of conquering the resistance of adversaries to the new order, but we must break their undertakings by decimating their leaders. “Franco is bound by the force of events to change the old regime. If she fails, there will open at her feet the abyss into which Spain nearly disappeared in 1936," the marshal declarod. . _ ... “In the light of experience, I will take up against egoistic, blind capitalism the struggle the Kings of France waged and won against feudalism. I want our country freed from its most despicable tutelage—money. I will act rigorously against irresponsible professional organisations led by mercenary considerations. It is scandalous that fortunes should be built up on the general wretchedness despite privations of all kinds. “Under tho most difficult conditions, France’s life has been maintained since her defeat. The Government’s problem beyond the framework of a simple Ministerial reshuffle; it requires certain principles, rigidly upheld. Authority no longer comes from below'. I delegate it first to Admiral Darlan, to. whom public opinion has not sliow'n itself always favourable and fair, but who has never ceased to help me with loyalty and courage. Lack of Unity Admitted Marshal Petain admitted a lack of unity throughout France, and blamed General de Gaulle, the London radio, and certain French newspapers. He realised that France could only be governed from Pari*. “But I cannot return to Paris yet," he added. Points in Marshal Petain's programme include: Disciplinary measures against members of secret societies, restrictions on civil servants who are Freemasons, the exclusion of holders of high Masonic offices from public office, doubling of tho public force, the appointment of special commissioners for the supervising of local government, abolition of the salaries of members of Parliament, abolition of Parliamentary immunity as from September 30, organisation and supervision of labour, industry and agriculture, establishment of a State economic organisation for national reconstruction, and the promulgation of a labour chnrtor regulating relations between labour and employers.