ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR "NAZI” LAVAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 49, 27 February 1941, Page 5

ANOTHER DEFEAT FOR "NAZI” LAVAL

NEW FRENCH CABINET ALL BUT ONE FRIENDS OF BRITAIN STRICT OBSERVANCE OF THE ARMISTICE IBy Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Received Feb. 26, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 25. The Vichy Vice-Premier, Admiral Darlan, has formed an inner Cabinet, limited to five members, as follows: Vice-President of the Council and also Minister of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Navy, Admiral Darlan. Minister of' Defence, General Huntzinger. Minister of Justice, M. Joseph Barthelemy. Minister of Finance, M. Bouthillier. Minister of Agriculture, M. Caziot. Marshal Philippe Petain remains head of the State. An official spokesman declared thal the new Cabinet has firmly decided tc follow a policy of Franco-German collaboration in terms of the armistice. The full Cabinet includes M. Barnaud as delegate-general for FrancoGerman economic negotiations, who is stationed in Paris, and whose duties include supervision of public and private contracts and also the conduct of all economic negotiations; and also M. Ledhideux as delegate-general for national equipment and employment, with control of all the Government’s employment schemes. The Times French correspondent states that Admiral Darlan's new Administration is another defeat for M. Laval (pro-Nazi) and represents a strict adherence to terms of the armistice. It is significant that all except one of the new Cabinet Ministers and delegates-general represent an important faction of the framers of the New French State, who are not enemies of England. B. Barthelemy is the exception. He is a strong enemy of Britain, but is an honest patriot. M. Bouthillier, always a friend of Britain, has a most distinguished career. M. Francois le Hideux is the most remarkable among the new men. He fought bravely in the war and was recalled to Paris shortly before the armistice and worked with the Minister of Armaments. After the armistice he refused to collaborate with the Germans and went to Vichy and joined Marshal Petain.