CHAOTIC CONDITIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21192, 15 August 1940, Page 8

CHAOTIC CONDITIONS

SHORTAGE OF NAZI MOVE RESENTED :United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Aug. 14 A report from Basle states that the Swiss newspaper Nationalzeitung discloses that riots have occurred at many places in unoccupied France. Chaotic conditions exist throughout the country. The railways are almost at a standstill, food distribution is impossible, and the hotels in some unoccupied districts, such as Toulouse, are barricaded with air raid precautions material because of riots. Many people have been disagreeably surprised to find that the Germans are beginning to quarter families from the Ruhr, the Rhineland and other bombed districts in empty Paris apartments. While there are large accumulations of foodstuffs in Brittany and Normandy, other districts are hun-ger-stricken. Unless the Vichy Government is able to obtain assistance from Wiesbaden by the autumn, all plans for reform will be worthless, and the plight of millions will be severe. German Obstinacy It is believed that the Germans are disinclined to negotiate with the Petain Government because of its Royalist flavour. German obstinacy regarding the return to Paris is believed to be due to the French refusal to permit the German occupation of all ports and of the Swiss frontier.

“ Laziness and incompetence are partly responsible for the downfall of France,” said Marshal Petain, in a broadcast to the French nation, reports of which have been received from Vichy.

Marshal Petain announced that the Government was giving 2,000,000,000,000 francs to farmers in order to offset famine. “ Sabotage and corruption led to disaster,” Marshal Petain said, “ but j this bad spirit disappeared with the j institution which harboured it and j the men who were responsible for it. j “ I know the extent of the French ; people’s suffering. There is not a ( single home in occupied or unoccupied France which is not bearing its j share of the suffering. I want French- . men to know that I understand their | impatience and exasperation over the j inadequate remedies for 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 “ Inefficiency and treachery -will be punished. The problems facing the Government further include that of numerous Frenchmen who have recently acquired French nationality, : the repression of alcoholism, which | is destroying our race, the reform of ! education, and the restoration of j family life. “ I have observed with grief that \ the Government’s intentions have ; been persistently misrepresented. “ Another urgent task is the repatriation of 4,000,000 Belgian and French refugees. Between August 1 and 10, refugees and demobilised soldiers totalling 500,000 have been repatriated to various parts of unoccupied France, while 250,000 vehicles have been 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 during the coming months. The cessation of work, the disruption of c/mmunications and the exodus of a large part of the agricultural population have conjured up the hideous spectre of famine. I should not be doing my duty if I did not express my thanks for American and. Swiss generosity, as a result of which clothing and food have been sent to relieve the misery of France. Plight of Soldiers “ The plight of young soldiers is receiving the special attention of the Government, which is initiating a series of public works which will be spread over a long period to provide employment and training by younger men. “ 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 this authority for technical reasons until certain material conditions have been realised.” Trial of Ex-Ministers The Supreme Court at Riom formally opened the trial of former French politicians, who are charged with responsibility for the war. The Court went into camera and the names of the accused were not revealed.

The prosecutor stated that documentary and other proof irrefutably showed that Ministers, former Ministers and their subordinates, had criminally abused their offices before the outbreak of war.