NAZI LEANINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24896, 21 April 1942, Page 5

NAZI LEANINGS

iTHE NEW VICHY CABINET j DANGER TO ALLIES REALISED [ (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Apl. 19. j M. Laval, the self-indicted enemy of I the cause of the United Nations, now ' has charge of four key Ministries in , the Vichy Government. The newspapers here waste little space in an analysis of the Cabinet's pro-German nonentities. The pertinent trend of the comment is that focused on the possible and probable immediate results. The Observer says: " It is impossible , to deny that the change may import I grave danger to the United Nations, i Surrender of the French fleet and French colonial territory would add immensely to the difficulty of maintaining the war against the Axis in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. On the other hand, it may be said with considerable confidence that only some very urgent necessity would have induced Herr 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 will be really at his disposal when his great offensive opens." The Sunday Times, while stressing the spirit of loathing for M. 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 Marshal Petain still symbolises the France of the great heroic days, but as the newspaper says: "The Marshal may be unable to recover and maintain any real control over events. If he does not, then every self-respect-ing Frenchman is also at the parting of the ways and will have to look for other leadership." Marshal Petain's Powers

A Vichy message states that when M. Laval began work at the Hotel Duparc as Chief or the Government his first visitor was Marshal Petain, with whom he had a " long and cordial talk." M. Laval also saw Admiral Darlan, and authorised circles state that there was complete accord of views between the two. Interviewed, M. Laval said: " I was very touched by the welcome Marshal Petain has given me. Many difficulties have been smoothed and my task has been greatly facilitated by the Chief of State's very clear understanding of the present situation. It is not correct to say that Marshal Petain has relinquished his powers. I am the head of the Government by virtue of the power he has delegated to me. but me authority of Marshal Peta'n is indispensable for the accomplishment of my mission. I shall find it necessary, if I am to succeed, to support myself by his wisdom and experience." Appeal to People

Marshal Petain, in a broadcast address, said: "With M. Laval, at the tragic moment of our disaster, I founded a new order to effect the reconstruction of France. To-day, at a moment as decisive as June, 1940. I find myself with him again for the purposes of resuming the work of national and European construction and reorganisation, the foundations of which we laid togethei". Frenchmen, your wisdom, patience, and patriotism will help to overcome all ordeals and miseries. Support the Government. It gives you new grounds for belief and hope."

The Daily Telegraph says: " M. Laval, when previously a member of the French Cabinet, never informed Marshal Petain fully before taking action. Still less did he ask for Marshal Petain's approval. The hand of Marshal Petain can be detected in only one Cabinet appointment, that of Admiral Auphand, who hitherto has been regarded with disfavour by the Germans, and is no traitor." The Vichy Cabinet includes only six who held office under Marshal Petain— Mm. Romier, Barthelemy, Barnaud. Marion, Benoist, Mechin, and Admiral Platon. PETAIN'S RESISTANCE FINALLY BROKEN BY RUSE (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) LONDON. Apl. 20. The Times correspondent on the French frontier, declaring that M. Laval's reinstatement was not a political but a strategic move, reveals that the German ultimatum to Marshal Petain demanded M. Laval's reinstatement with the totalitarian powers within seven days, otherwise the Italians would seize Tunis, Corsica. Nice and Savoy, and the Germans would establish a rival Government in Paris. Inconteslible proof was laid,before Marshal Petain that the Italians were ready and waiting orders to march. Marshal Petain's initial resistance was finally broken by the ruse of informing the authorities in Tunis and other threatened regions that their fate lay in Marshal Petain's hands, whereupon representatives of these places hurried to Vichy and urged Marshal Petain to accept the ultimatum immediately and unconditionally A Vichy message states that one of M. Laval's first acts was to dismiss M. George Mondanel. head of the political section of the French Secret Police, who arrested him in December. 1940. He will be given new duties outside Vichy, DISTURBANCES REPORTED BOMB THROWN AT DORIOT (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Apl. 20. Laval's new Cabinet met for the first time in Vichy this afternoon, and M. Laval is expected to make a statement of his policy this evening. He will then go to Paris and return to Vichy to-morrow evening. Meanwhile there have been fresh disturbances in both occupied and unoccupied France, and strong detachments of naval pickets are reported to be patrolling the streets of Toulon. A bomb was thrown at M. Doriot a prominent agitator for collaboration with Germany, when he was making a sneech at Rennes. The bomb fell in the orchestra pit, and injured one man. The thrower of the bomb escaped. Marshal Petain. in & broadcast, asserted that he had still the last word in French home and foreign policy, and M. Laval in a statement upheld this view. M. Laval's German masters however, appear to have different views, and a Berlin newspaper says: "Germany will judge M. Laval on his willingness to collaborate with the Reich."