VICHY REGIME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24685, 14 August 1941, Page 7

VICHY REGIME

SWEEPING CHANGES PETAIN’S PROGRAMME RELATIONS WITH GERMANY (Rec. 7. p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 12. The suspension of all political activity throughout France and the creation of a Council of Political Justice, which will submit to him by October 15 a list of those considered responsible for the fall of France, were announced by Marshal Petain in a broadcast to the French nation. He explained that the delays in arranging Franco-German collaboration resulted from Germany. being engaged in a gigantic battle in Eastern Europe in defence of civilisation. He added: “I have grave things to tell you. In an atmosphere of false rumours and intrigues an understandable uneasiness is gripping the people of France. My name has very often been 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 defeat 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 to be Minister of Defence in order that he might exert a more direct control over the land, sea and air forces. I appreciate the collaboration Hitler courteously offered France, but it is a work of slow developments which has not yet borne all its fruits. “ Our relations with Germany and Italy were defined in the provisional armistice. It is our wish to escape from these provisional relations and establish a more stable bond, without which the European order cannot again be built up. I would like to recall for the great American republic the reasons why she need not fear a decline of 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 a scarcity of products. The disturbance of our spirit arises not only from the vicissitudes of our foreign policy, but from our slowness in constructing the new order. Barriers Raised

“ The national revolution has not yet become a fact because the upholders of the old regime and the servants of trusts have raised barriers between the people and myself. A long delay is necessary for conquering the resistance of adversaries to the new order, but we must break their . undertakings by decimating the leaders. France is bound by the force of events to change her old regime. If she fails there will open at her feet the abyss into which Spain nearly disappeared in 1936. “ In the light of experience I will take up against egoistic, blind capitalist the struggle that the Kings of France waged and won against feudalism. I want our country to be set free from the most despicable tutelage—money—and will act rigorously against irresponsible professional Organisations led by mercenary considerations. It is scandalous that fortunes should be built up on general wretchedness, in spite of privations of all kinds. “ Under the most difficult conditions France’s life has been maintained since defeat.. The Government’s problem goes beyond the framework of a simple ministerial reshuffle. It required that certain principles should be rigidly upheld. Authority, which no longer comes from below, I delegate, first, to Admiral Darlan, to whom opinion has not shown itself always favourable or fair, but who has not ceased to help me with loyalty and courage.” Lack of Unity Admitted

Marshal Petain admitted that there was a lack of unity throughout France, and he blamed General de Gaulle, the London radio and certain French newspapers. He realised that France could only be governed from Paris, “ but I cannot return to Paris yet.” Other 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 the Police Force, the appointment of special commissioners for supervising local government, the abolition of salaries for parliamentarians, the abolition of parliamentary immunity from September 30, the organisation and supervision of labour, industry and agriculture, the establishment of a State economic organisation for national reconstruction, and the promulgation of a labour charter regulating the relations between labour and employers.