LAVAL'S DOWNFALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23840, 16 December 1940, Page 6

LAVAL'S DOWNFALL

After his brief enjoyment; of a rare eminence according well with his known avidity for personal advantage, Laval lias suffered sudden and ruinous downfall. No pity for him can be felt in honest hearts, lie played a most ignoble part in the sorry events that gave Hitler control of France. Marshal Petain and a few others may have been moved by patriotic considerations to try to make honourable terms with Hitler, in the hope of rescuing France from utter ignominy. Their expectation was sadly mistaken, as they must now realise. But there was nothing of the patriot in Laval's conduct. He became at once a willing tool of the arch-enemy, serving the alien purpose with shameful eagerness, even to the bitter degrading of old political associates less compliant with the Nazi demands. For reward lie was made Petain's deputy in the new, subservient Ministry, and successor to Petain as Chief of State. At once

his relish for this advancement and its prospects was actively manifested; busy in the service of his German master, he was known to be conniving at a peace that would demean France still further. Lately it was understood that he was to visit Berlin for special consultation, in which French co-operation against Britain was to be arranged. What precisely induced Petain to dismiss him is hidden in the strange confusion oE Franco-German relations as yet unresolved, but apparently he had gone too far, in the opinion of the French people, of Petain and even of Hitler, to be trusted by anybody. His fate, however, gives no assurance of a better outlook for France, for Flandin, who takes his place, will as gladly do Hitler's bidding. When Hitler scored his cunning diplomatic victory at the Munich conference in 1038, Flandin sent him a personal message of congratulation. That is a sinister remembrance. The plight of Vichy will he unrelieved, in spite of Flandin's having no ex officio right to succeed Petain.