FRENCH PEOPLE’S SUFFERING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 191, 15 August 1940, Page 5

FRENCH PEOPLE’S SUFFERING

PROBLEMS FOR THE GOVERNMENT BROADCAST BY MARSHAL PETAIN (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright} Received Aug. 14, 8.55 p.m. VICHY, Aug, 14. “Laziness and incompetence were partly responsible for France's downfall,” declared Marshal Petain, broadcasting to the nation. He announced that the Government was giving two billion francs to farmers in order to offset the famine.

“Sabotage and corruption led to the disaster, but this bad spirit disappeared with the institution harbouring it and the men responsible for it,” said Marshal Petain. “I know the extent of the French people's suffering. There is not a single home in occupied or unoccupied France not bearing a share of that suffering. I want Frenchmen to know that 1 understand their impatience and exasperation over the inadequate remedies lor their ills, but these ills originated in the same causes which led the country to disaster—demoralisation and disorganisation which invaded the body of the State like gangrene, provoking open sabotage and social disorder. “Inefficiency and treachery will be punished. The problems facing the Government further include numerous Frenchmen who have recently acquired French nationality, repression of alcoholism which is destroying our race, education reform ana restoration of family life. I have observed with grief that the Government’s intentions are persistently misrepresented.

“Another urgent task is the repatriation of 4,000,000 Belgian and French refugees. Between August 1 and 10 500,000 refugees were demobilised and soldiers repatriated to various parts of unoccupied France, and a quarter of a million vehicles were regained in the unoccupied zone during the same period. There are also the problems of French prisoners of war and the employment of demobilised soldiers.

“The Government's first task is to procure sufficient nourishment for everybody in the coming months. The cessation of work, disruption of communications and exodus of a largo part of the agricultural population has conjured up a hideous spectre of famine. I should not be doing my duty if 1 did not express thanks for the American and Swiss generosity, as a result of which clothing and food has been sent to relieve France’s misery. “The plight of young soldiers is receiving special attention. The Government is initiating a series of public works which will be spread over a long period in order to provide employment and training for the younger me.—, “Immediately after the Armistice we asked Germany to authorise the transfer of the French Government to Paris and this was- included in the Armistice terms. Germany has now informed us that while maintaining the agreement in principle she cannot grant the authority for technical reasons until certain material conditions have been realised.”