TO CRUSH TREASON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 71, 26 March 1940, Page 5

TO CRUSH TREASON

NEW FRENCH GOVERNMENT CABINET DECIDES TO REMAIN AT ITS POST "ENGAGED IX TOTAL WARFARE WITH POWERFUL ENEMY.” (By Telegraph—Presi Aaaociation—Copyright) Paris, Marcn 21. A communique after the Chamber of Deputies had t oted 268 to 186 in favour ot M. Paul Reynaud's ne>. French Government, 111 oostaming, stated that all the Ministers had assured M. Reynaud of their loyal collaboration and that therelore ne had decided that in the present grave situation it was the Cauinet's duty to remain at its post. "To arouse, muster, and direct all the strength of France to light the war anti to crush treason from wherever it comes" was the keynote of the new Government's policy as expounded in a Ministerial declaration which was read in the Chamber and the Senate. "r rance is engaged in total warfare with a powerful, organised, and determined enemy who is transforming all human activities into means o. warfare." it was stated. "This enemy, 1 helped by the Soviet's treachery, is i carrying the struggle into every ‘ sphere and co-ordinating all its blows ' with a kind of genius lor destruction ' the grandiose and hateful aspects of f which we cannot foil to recognise. ) "Everything At Stake.” , "Because of the nature of this total warfare everything is at stake. To win is to save all; to succumb is to . lose all. With your support we shall - accomplish our task. It a further i stimulant is needed, we have only to measure the resources of our country and Empire and to look at our admir- ' able ally." . M. Reynaud was applauded when he : sat down in the Chamber of Deputies, i ; but the Centre and the Left did not | , conceal their impatience. The Right-1 ists remained cold and unmoved. j . The leader of the principal Conservative group, M. Louis Martin, who controls 60 votes, and M. P. E. Flandin, leader of the Rightist Republican alliance, announced that their groups would oppose M. Reynaud because tne Government did not represent "national adhesion." M. Calimand (Radical-Socialist) | said: "France has been waiting for ! a war Cabinet, but is offered a dose of | medicine instead. M. Edouard Dala- • diet fell because of the revenge of the Socialists, whose errors he corrected.” Other members of M. Daladier’s group attacked M. Reynaud for the vagueness ot his statement and the unwieldiness of his Cabinet. M. Reynaud, replying, said: “The rhythm of our people is too slow. We must reveal France to herself. The Government will till the role of animator if the Chamber permits. The nation's security formerly depended on the army and now it depends on the entire people. We will not repeat the mistakes of the last war. M. Daladier proved his ability to be economical in human lives. "Our sole principle of foreign policy is to give friendship for friendship and enmity for enmity.” “Fighting Treason.” "We want the workers to under- ‘ stand that we are fighting Communism not because of extreme Leftist 1 doctrine but because we are fighting treason. Liberty represents Frances ’ most precious heritage. We are in 1 Britain's camp of freedom, and desire other nations to adhere to the Franco-British bloc, which does not ■ - obligate our sense of Latin solidarity, | Our foreign policy tends to create a ; new Europe of free peoples. “We want to make war and with 1 the least delay obtain lasting peace." Defending the conduct of the war so ■ far, M. Reynaud denied tha’. it had f been paid for by methods of inflation. Among those who attacked the new 1 Cabinet were two Radical-Socialist ’ deputies who themselves are repre- 1 ' sented in its composition. 1 The Socialist Party leader, M. Leon ' Blum, tried to offset the effects of the Radical-Socialist attack. He said that ’ the Socialists had decided to join the *• Government without negotiating with ■ M. Reynaud because they wanted to ■' try to help in securing a just and last- - ing peace in the shortest time and 1 with the least possible sacrifice.