Results of Vichy Changes

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 93, 21 April 1942, Page 5

Results of Vichy Changes

Conjecture at Home

PATE OP FRENCH FLEET AND COLONIAL TERRITORY

(British Official Wireless) Received Monday, 7 p.m. RUGBY, April 19.

Laval—self-indicted enemy of the cause of the United Nations—is now in charge of four key ministries in the Vichy Government. The newspapers here waste little space in analysis of the Cabinet’s pro-German nonentities. The pertinent trend of comment is that focussed on the possible or probable immediate results. The Observer says: “It is impossible to deny that the change may import a grave danger to the United Nations. Tho surrender of the French fleet and French colonial territory would add immensely to the difficulties of maintaining the war against the Axis in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. On the other hand, it may be said with considerable confidence that only some urgent necessity would have induced Hitler to disturb even the uneasy stability into which France under the Vichy Government had settled down. Doubtless he would give much to be assured that the remaining resources of France are really at his disposal when his great offensive opens.'' The Sunday Times, while stressing tho spirit of loathing for Laval which permeates all decent Frenchmen, makes the point that it is the aged Marshal Petain who stands at the parting of the ways. In Frenchmen’s eyes, Petain still symbolises France of the great and iheroic days, but as the newspaper says: “The marshal may be unable to recover and maintain any real control over event. If he does not, then every self-respecting Frenchman is also at the parting of the ways and will have to look for other leadership.”

The Daily Telegraph says Laval, when previously a member of the French Cabinet, never informed Marshal Petain fully before taking action. Still less did he ask for Petain’s approval. The hand of Petain can be detected in only one Cabinet appointment, that of Admiral Auphand, wfio hitherto has been regarded with disfavour by the Germans and who is no traitor.

The Vichy Cabinet includes only six who held office under Petain—Roinier, Barthelemy, Barnaud, Marion, Benoist* Mechin and Platon.

The London Times' correspondent on the French frontier, declaring that Laval’s reinstatement was not a political, but a strategic move, reveals that a German ultimatum to Petain demanded Laval’s reinstatement, totalitarian powers, within seven daysotherwise the Italians would seize Tunis, Corsica, Nice and Savoy and the Germans would establish a rival. Government in Paris. InconteatibV proof was laid before Petain that the Italians were ready, waiting for ordeito march. Petain’s initial resistance j was finally broken by the ruse of inI forming tho authorities in Tunis and the other threatened regions that tho fate lay in Petain’s hands, whereupon representatives hurried to Vichy and urged Petain to accept the ultimatum immediately and unconditionally. A Vichy message states that one of Laval’s first acts was to dismiss Georges Mondanel, head of the political section of tho French Secret Police, who arrested him on December, 1940. He will be given new duties outside Vichy. The Paris radio stated that a grenade was thrown from the gallery of the Municipal Theatre in Rennes while M. Doriot was making a speech at ft meeting of the French National Party on April 19. The grenade exploded behind the orchestra pit, and one person was injured.