The French Scene SETTING OF PETAIN TRIAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23262, 25 July 1945, Page 5

The French Scene SETTING OF PETAIN TRIAL

Brooding Moment For France Cynical International Outlook Bv Telegraph —N.Z Press Assn.— Cop’.'rupi' (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. The eves of Europe to-day arc on Paris where the trial of Marshal Petain has begun. There is tremendous interest throughout France as this old and formerly greath-respected man stands before a jury of 32, accused, not only of unnecessarily surrendering to the Germans in 1910 and subsequently pursuing a deliberate policy of collaboration with the Nazis, but also with having, before the war, envisaged Trances defeat and having planned a coup d'etat in 1910, while still a servant of the Third Republic. To gain some idea of what this means in the eyes of the average man and woman in France, it is as though General Eisenhower, in 25 years from now, could be accused of "selling out” America, for instance, to the Japanese, in order to become President, or if Field-Marshal Montgomery were ever io be accused of parleying with the Germans in order to become Prime Minister. Both possibilities are unthinkable. But in effect that is the position in which Marshal Petain, who ranked as high in French esteem a quarter of a centurv a„o, as General Eisenhower and Field-Marshal Montgomery do in their own countries to-day, stands at present. The trial is a heavy, brooding moment for France and thoroughly in keeping with the rather gloomy mood of the French people to-day and the sense of disillusionment which weighs heavily on the nation. Tire French people” openly admit that the nation requires some kind of electric shock to stir it to life again. Men and women who fought with the Maquis are quite frank in admitting- that the idealism which was the central flame of their resistance against the Germans throughout the war, seems at least temporarily to have been lost. The people as a whole seem tired and unresponsive. They lack adequate rations, the country urgently needs raw materials and though the transport system has greatly Improved there is still much to be done. Dread Of Winter The people are frankly dreading next winter" for, while the crops are fair, there has been a harvest failure in North Africa, which means that corn must eventually be exported there. Coal production is lbw and. as far as getting raw materials into the country is concerned, French ships are still in the Allied pool, where presumably they will remain until the end of the Japanese war. It is realised and admitted that the average Frenchman has become so used to avoiding -work under German rule that it has now become a habit which is being found difficult to change. The overall position is aggravated by the complicated political position and the fact that until next spring France will not have a settled Government due to the fact that details of the new constitution have to be decided. The general desire is for a new kind of constitution, but whether it will be a modification of that of 1875, comprising two Assemblies, or entirely new and comprising one Assembly only, is undecided. The election is not till October and several months will elapse before a new type of constitution will be evolved. De Gaulle’s Status General de Gaulle remains the only political figure of consequence in France and, although he is much criticised and although some express i lie opinion that he should eschew politics, it is generally agreed that there is a big gap between him and the next possible leaders, such as M. Georges Bidault. It is said that

General de Gaulle is of no particular party, though perhaps is closest in thought to the Christian Socialist Party, of which M. Bidault is the leader. M. Thorez is the Communist leader, but while this Party is emphasising the theme of France’s renaissance, some of the views of the Party leaders are not acceptable to the rank and file. Tire Radicals are led by M. Hen-lot and the Socialists by M. Leon Blum, M. Auriol and M. Paul Boncour. but it is the opinion that men like M.M. Herriot and Blum are now dated and therefore lack prestige. How far France has moved to the Left is stated to be difficult to estimate. It is said that the results of the municipal elections give no clear indications, since not only have all the results not been tabulated, but no candidates presented any particular programme to the electors. The opinion is generally expressed that France today is in one of her most difficult periods, and what is being watched for closely is whether the underlying desire for her renaissance will be forceful enough to throw off the present dull, heavy mood. Pride In Army One indication of this desire is the pride, of the people in the new French Army and the scenes which accompanied the celebration of July 14. The general over-riding wish is to see France strong again with a firm international prestige, and it is this very spirit which broods so fiercely over such incidents as those with the British in the Levant, and Syria and with the Americans at Strasbourg, while many resent the fact that France was not invited to attend Potsdam. There is no doubt that die average French person is convinced that Britain desires to oust France from the Levant and Syria, while she lias not the slightest intention of relaxing her own strongly-entrenched position in the Middle East. Il has made them very cynical. Another thing that France is watching closely is the subject of reparations from Germany and the Allied handling of German industries. They naturally want to see their own industries reestablished before those in Germany. Some even .suggest that an international cartel system mav favour I getting Germany going again before countries like Fiance. Again, some French neople are very cynical of the other Powers’ interest, in Europe, averring that America has practically bought out Italy, while Britain is stronglv entrenched in Belgium. Whether thi.s is so, it is one of the reasons why General de Gaulle is admired for “standing up” to America a nr] Britain, rr fining to’b° dominated and insisting on complete independence i i> f a c lion.