DARLAN COMMANDS FRANCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 190, 14 August 1941, Page 5

DARLAN COMMANDS FRANCE

TREND TO_GERMANY COLLABORATION PLAN PETAIN THANKS HITLER BLAMES BRITISH RADIO AND DE GAULLE FOR DISUNITY London. Aug. 12. It was announced in Vichy to-dav that Admiral F. Darlan has been appointed Minister of National and Empire Defence giving him absolute control of the defence services. Marshal Petain, Chief of the French State, in making the announcement, staterl that he had some grave things to say to the French people. He staled that he knexv there xvas unrest throughout the country and that his government was unpopular but that was because of the provisional nature of its relations with Germany and Italy. Therefore ho needed to establish more stable bonds. Addressing America, Marshal Petain stated that French Parliamentary Democracy was dead, though throughout France the instinct of freedom still lived. The Government, under Admiral Darlan, would act on a 12-point programme which placed it on new lines. Food supply would be reorganised, secret societies would be watched, tho trial of scapegoats would he speeded up, and all Ministers and officials of the Government would have 1o take the oath of allegiance to Admiral Darlan. No Politic:.’ Activity The suspension of all political activity throughout France and (he creation of a Council of Political Justice, which would submit to him by October 15 a list of those considered responsible for the fall of France, was also announced by Marshal Petain.

He explained that delays in arranging Franco-German collaboration had resulted from Germany being engaged in a gigantic battle in eastern Zurope in lhe defence of civilisation. “I have grave things to tell you, he said. “In the atmosphere of false rumours, intrigues and understandable uneasiness gripping the people of France my name has very often been invoked in an attempt to justify alleged beneficial undertakings xvhich are actually appeals to discipline. When "ar continues on lhe frontiers of a nation xvhich in defeat has been put hors de combat, but xvhose empire remains vulnerable, everyone asks in anguish, what is the future oi my country? I have entrusted Admiral Darlan to lhe post of Minister of Defence and Order. He xvill exert more direct control over the land, sea and air forces. “f appreciate the collaboration Hitler courteously offered France, but il is a work of slow development, and has not yet borne all its fruits.” Relations With Axis “Our relations with Germany and Italy are defined in a provisional armistice. It is our wish to escape from these provisional relations and establish a more stable bond, without with European order cannot again be built up. “1 would like to recall to the greed American Republic reasons why she

need not fear a decline of French ideals. Our parliamentary democracy, which is now dead, had few traits In common with American democracy. The instinct of freedom still lives proudly and strongly in us. Our difficulties arise from troubled minds, lack of men and scarcity of products, ’’’he disturbance of our spirit arises not only from Ih° vicissitudes of our foreign policy, hut also from our slowness in constructing lhe new order. The national revolution has not yci become a fact, because upholders of the old regime and servants of trusts raised barriers between the people and myself. A long delay was necessary for the conquering of resistance of adversaries to the new order, but we must break their undertaking by idecimating the leaders. “France is bound hy the force of events Io change her old regime. II I she fails there is open at her feet the abyss into which Spain nearly disappeared in 1936. In the light of exIperience, I will take up against egoistic blind capitalism the struggle the kings of France waged won against feudalism. I want our country to he freed from the most despicable tutelage- money. I will act rigor ously against irresponsible professional organisations led by mercenary consideration. It is scandalous that fortunes should be built up on the general wretchedness.” Lack of Unity

Marshal Petain admitted a lack nf unity throughout France and blamed General do Gaulle, the London radio [and certain French newspapers. He realised that Franco is only governable from Paris, “but I cannot, return to Paris yet.” Other points in Marshal Petain’s programme include disciplinary measures against members of secret societies, restriction on civil servants who are freemasons. Ihc exclusion of holders of high Masonic offices from [public office, the doubling of th? I police force, the appointment of special I commissioners for supervising local government, lhe abolition of salaries | for parliamentarians, the abolition of parliamentary immunity from September 30, lhe organisation and supervision of labour, industry and agriculture. the establishment of a stale economic organisation for national reconstruction, and the promulgation of the labour charter regulating relations between labour and employers.— U.P.A.