The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1941. LAVAL’S LATEST MOVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 32, 7 February 1941, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1941. LAVAL’S LATEST MOVE

J AVAL’S latest move is to demand the control o£ the Government of France. This he is doing knowing that he has the backing of Hitler. Laval’s position is therefore very strong in consequence.

Marshal Petain’s position, on the other hand, is not to be assessed, because he attained to office during a period of crisis and he has inadequate means of knowing his own backing. This inadequacy of knowledge is his greatest handicap. Petain does not know how far he can depend upon the popu-

lation of occupied France to support him in any crisis; and farther still from his knowledge is how that, same population would react to actual invasion by a German force. Obviously Petain’s policy must be to temporise and to compromise. The extent to which Petain may go in his policy of compromise is again an unknown factor. If he goes too far he may be disowned by the people of France, in which case the Colonial Empire would move in the direction of De Gaulle. He may go to the limit which public opinion at home will permit and yet fail to carry Colonial France with him, in which case failure would again be his portion. • Laval, on the other hand, would be able to present the Colonial Empire with a fait accompli, and then present it to the world as an inevitable step from the taking of which there was no alternative. In the present setting of the stage Laval finds himself frustrated in his efforts to secure a position of power—even though it be a position of quasi (or Quisling) power. He wdl naturally become more insistent as the days pass, and in order to bring about the downfall of Petain he can be expected to increase his promises of performances to Hitler. That Hitler has had the good sense to refrain from overrunning the whole of France, and to treat with the Marshal on the subject of co-operation, indicates clearly that he is aware of the limitations which would rest upon Laval were he to be put in charge of France at German dictation. The French are a tenacious people, and they are looking forward to the day of their deliverance. Laval would counter this by indulging in fierce recriminations against Britain: but Hie longer he is kept out of the control of France the stronger will grow the spirit of resistance to Germany. It may be that even now it is too late for Laval to be of any real use to Hitler. <111(1 the only purpose now for the former is as a threatened alternative to Petain. The continuance, of the British successes in Africa will strengthen the will to resist which undoubtedly exists in the minds and hearts of the French citizens in Morocco and Algeria. If they can be assured that they can hold out with success against the Germans, then they will continue to do so; and if they conic to the view that they will not make matters worse lor unoccupied France, they will lake up arms against Germany and Italy on their own account. Laval would have to be extremely skilful to be able to convince the people in the Colonial Empire that to enter the house of bondage will be to their advantage, and that is what giving to Germany an air base in 1 unisia would assuredly mean. While the position at Vichy is by no means clear and not wholly favourable, the general situation should not be one which would justify the belief that unoccupied France will side with Germany, and that the Colonial Empire will do likewise.