NAZI OBJECTIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24250, 16 April 1942, Page 7

NAZI OBJECTIVE

UNOCCUPIED FRANCE ATTITUDE TO BRITAIN LONDON, April 16 The reason for Laval's return to the Vichy Cabinet has been given by the Berlin correspondent of a Swiss newspaper. He says it is admitted in Berlin that Germany must secure her rear in the west before starting an offensive in the east. The R.A.F. attacks have increased the military importance of unoccupied France. Therefore it is .considered necessary to have a Vichv Government able to resist the British Government. This morning's edition of France, the Free French paper published in London, says that Laval's return may be summed up in two words, "total capitulation." "This crisis," says the paper, "appears to have been brought about by German threats. They wish to secure their armies in the rear and prepare for all eventualities in France before they launch their spring or summer offensive. Less than ever can it be said that there is a French Government at Vichy." The Press Association's diplomatic correspondent says it is obvious that the Germans are highly nervous concerning the state of affairs in France. Darlan is steadily falling from favour and from the German viewpoint has become practically useless. German wrath has been aroused by Vichy's failure to handle the propaganda after the Royal Air Force raid on the' Renault works, from which the Germans hoped that anti-British feeling would sweep France. Two instances of Vichy's behaviour and the feeling of the French people appear to have particularly upset the Germans, says the British official wireless. Firstly, the Riom trials, which have palpably not proceeded along the lines Germany intended. Instead of once and for all establishing French war guilt, as the Germans desired, the trials were so conducted as to put the cause for the French disaster on the old regime, thus attempting to bolster up the present Vichy system. Secondly, there was the failure of Vichy propaganda after the lloval Air Force raid on the Renault works, near Paris The Germans obviously considered this a golden opportunity to stir up anti-Britisli sentiment amortg the French people. In this Vichy tailed utterly.