GRATITUDE TO M. LEBRUN

Southland Times, Issue 24180, 17 July 1940, Page 5

GRATITUDE TO M. LEBRUN

Former President Retires

(Received July 16, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 15.

The Times says that M. Albert Lebrun, the former President, called on Marshal Henri Petain, the new Chief of State, before retiring to his family estate. Marshal Petain expressed his own and the nation’s gratitude for the “understanding” M. Lebrun showed in handing over his functions. The American Associated Press Paris correspondent says that Paris is now vastly changed from the gay and brilliant centre of world pleasure. The French municipal administration is carrying on with its own police, who are administering the laws which the Germans have enforced. There is no French opposition. The public seems too thoroughly defeated to resist. The cinemas have opened and are showing German films. The French find the closing of cafes at 9.30 p.m. and the curfew at 10 p.m. the most irksome restrictions. Food is still fairly plentiful but a scarcity is expected as the refugees return. Only Le Soir and Le Matin remain of the 12 newspapers. Two new journals have appeared. One, La France au Travail is fiercely anti-Semitic. All the papers in the occupied territory are attacking Britain. Free Frenchmen in Britain have received a copy of a French newspaper entitled Le Quatorze Juillet. General Charles de Gaulle in a message in it says: “The enemy crushed us with 6000 tanks and 6000 aeroplanes. One day he will be crushed by 20,000 tanks and 20,000 aeroplanes.” The University of Rome, through > the official journal Fascista, has demanded France to return all art works that Napoleon “looted” from Italy, including the Mona Lisa and other works by Leonardo da Vinci and Titian. The Paris wireless announced that all paintings and art treasures in France were undamaged. king zog~ desires TO ENTER U.S.A. LONDON, July 15. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that King Zog and Queen Geraldine are seeking permission to enter the United States with King Zog’s sisters and a retinue of 30. They will have to travel as immigrants because of the cessation of the issue of visitors’ visas.