UNREST IN FRANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 26 September 1940, Page 6

UNREST IN FRANCE.

" STILL PRO-BRITISH."

NATIONAL PRIDE REVIVING.

LONDON, September 2.

A revival of the spirit of independence and of pride in Nationality lately has been observed in both occupied and unoccupied France, where seemingly the people are emerging from a kind of nightmare, which followed the shattering news of the capitulation to Germany.

A special correspondent of the "Daily Mail," writing from Spain after spending 10 days in occupied France, says that, despite German propaganda, the French nation remains anti-German and pro-British.

He quotes the following observations by an American newspaper correspondent: "Paris is marvellous, though it ia sad for me to stay in. See how Parisians are standing up to the invader with calm quiet dignity. Nightly they gather in each other's houses, with doors and windows closed, to listen to the 8.8.C. Their only pleasure is to hear the exploits of your wonderful Air Force. Xone of them believes the German figures."

Outward demonstrations of loyalty are beginning to follow the tone and model set by the Czechs—quiet but seeinihjrly spontaneous gestures emphasising national solidarity, of which the latest manifestation was an outburst of tricolour ribbons or 'blue, white, and red flowers worn by Parisians. "The Germans promptly instructed the controlled French newspapers to discourage the practice. It may be only a coincidence that this demonstration coiucided with the visit of the or France, M. Laval, to Paris, to confer with Herr Otto Abetz, who collaborates with the German Foreign Minister, Heir von Ribbentrop.

What cynical, realistic French observers are now awaiting is some open manifestation of M. Laval's own misgivings about the possibility of having backed the wrong horse. In other words, tliey await the "ratting"' of M. Laval "and other patriots" in the Petain Government, which probably will take the form of a temporary retirement to allow less astute an-J less experienced politicians like the Fo.vign Minister, M. Baudouin, to take perhaps greater ricks of being wrong, until it is" seen which way the cat is jumping.