MARSHAL PETAIN MEETS LAVAL

Southland Times, Issue 24339, 21 January 1941, Page 5

MARSHAL PETAIN MEETS LAVAL

ANNOUNCEMENT OF RAPPROCHEMENT VICHY, January 19. It is officially stated that Marshal Petain had a long conference yesterday with M. Pierre Laval. In it the misunderstandings which led to M. Laval’s resignation from the Foreign Ministry were smoothed out. The German News Agency states that agreement in principle has already been reached on the orders to be placed by Germany with five French, industries in Paris—namely, engineering, optical precision instrument making, metal working, electrical work, and motorcar and cycle manufacture. It is hoped in France that orders from Germany will reduce unemployment. In a copyright message to the North American Newspaper Alliance from Vichy Jay Allen states that, he had the first exclusive interview with Marshal Petain, who said: “There is none who can say authoritatively what resistance from the colonies might have been worth. But it can be proved that for that resistance France would have paid very dearly—by the invasion of all France and a complete break between the Motherland and the Empire. As we find ourselves today we have stood the trial. France has survived the national revolution of 1940 and aims to restore to the community discipline, to restore quality in labour and a greater family life. However, there will be empty cradles because 2,000,000 Frenchmen are in prison camps. We face a cruel winter and thus we. have the prospect of cradles with sick babies alongside empty cradles.” Marshal Petain addressed an urgent appeal to America for food supplies.