UNREST IN FRANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24401, 12 September 1940, Page 8

UNREST IN FRANCE

NATION REVIVING "STILL fRO-BRITISH” SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE LONDON, Sept. 2. A revival of the spirit of independence and of pride in nationality lately has been observed in both occupied and uhbccupied , France, where seemingly the people are emerging from a kind, of nightmare,; which followed the shattering news oft the capitulation to Germany. 1A special correspondent; -of ; the Daily Mail, vyriting from Spain -after spending 10 days in occupied France, sdys that, despite German propaganda, the French nation remains anti-German and pro-British. He quotes the following observations by an American newspaper correspondent: “ Paris is marvellous, though it is too sad for me to stay inv,.! See how Parisians are standing up to the invader with calm, quiet dignity. Nightly, they gather in each other’s houses with doors and windows closed, to listen to the 8.8. C. Their only pleasure is to hear the exploits of your wonderful Air Force. None of them believe the Gferman figures,” Tricolours In Paris Outward demonstrations, of loyalty are beginning to follow the tone and model set by the Czechs—-quiet but seemingly spontaneous gestures emphasising; national solidarity, ~of which the latest manifestation was an: outburst-;of tricolour ribbons or blue, white, .and red flowers worn by Parisians. ■ V-V- ' The Germans promptly, instructed the, controlled French newspapers to discourage the practice, and, as a result. La France au Travail obediently described the demonstration as being in the worst possible taste It may be only a coincidence that this demonstration coincided with the visit of the Vice-Premier of France, M. Laval, to Paris, to confer with Herr Otto Abetz, who collaborates; with the German Foreign Minister. Herr von Ribbentrop. A Sorry Figure At any rate, it is plain to French experts that, as the pplitically-con-scious and politically-minded French public awakens from their doze, they are beginning to sort out politics' manoeuvres'and alignments, in which M. Laval cuts an increasingly sorry figure. What cynical; realistic French observers are now awaiting is some open manifestation of. M. Laval’s own misgivings about the possibility of having backed the wrong horse. In other words, they await the ** ratting” of M. Layal “and other patriots ” in : the Petairi Government, which probably will take the form of a temporary retirement to allow less astute and less experienced politicians like the Foreign Minister, M. Badouin, to take perhaps greater risks of being wrong, until it is seen which way the cat is jumping.