LAVAL DEMANDS THE PREMIERSHIP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 32, 7 February 1941, Page 5

LAVAL DEMANDS THE PREMIERSHIP

PRESSURE ON FRANCE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF PETAIN’S CABINET IBt Telegraph—Prewa Association—Copyright) Received Feb. 6. 5.5 p.m. LONDON. Feb. 5. lite British United Press Vichy correspondent says that M. Laval has demanded the Premiership and the right to name his own Government. An extraordinary meeting of the Vichy Cabinet, to which even undersecretaries have been summoned, is being held to-night. The Chief ot State, Marshal Philipe Retain, is expected to broadcast to the nation. A communique issued after a twohour Cabinet meeting said: “Admiral Darlan rviewed the conversations in Paris of the past few days and Ministers then deliberated on general policy." It is claimed in Berlin that M. Laval will shortly resume active control of the Vichy Government with far more power than hitherto, but it is stated in Vichy that Marshal Petain is still holding out and playing for time. Marshal Petain to-day received General Studt, head of the Germancontrolled war industries in occupied France. General Studt visited the War Ministry with a French military escort.

It is officially explained that the visit of General Studt to the War Ministry was “simply a courtesy call on assuming the office of German armistice controller of war industries in France.” It was later stated that Admiral Darlan is going to Paris to-morrow carrying compromise proposals. FOOD FOR OCCUPIED FRANCE BRITISH UNITED STATES DISCUSSIONS WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. The Secretary of Slate, Mr. Cordell Hull, said that discussions between the United States .and Britain on the possibility of lifting the blockade to permit shipment of more food to unoccupied France would await tangible evidence that needs were acute. The statement followed reports that the French Ambassador, Mr. Henry Haye, was seeking to obtain the release of frozen French funds to permit the purchase of food.

SPAIN RESENTFUL OF THE BLOCKADE CRITICISM OF BRITAIN MADRID, Feb. 5. As a climax to Press criticism of the British blockade as a contributoi to Spain’s shortage of food, the newspaper Arriba says:— “The moment has arrived when action must succeed words and when a wrathful offensive must replace prudent defence if we are to improve our circumstances at home and abroad. Only in a revolutionary and military atmosphere will Spain find the strength she urgently needs to break the blockade which is trying to paralyse her for ever.”