PETAIN'S PROBLEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 108, 2 November 1940, Page 9

PETAIN'S PROBLEMS

BRITISH SYMPATHY;

CRUSHING BURDENS

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, October 31. There is full appreciation in authoritative quarters in London of the difficulties with which Marsha! Petain is confronted in his efforts to secure for the French people alleviation of the crushing burdens cast upon them by the terms imposed, by Germany. The measure of these dim> cnlties emerged to some extent inj Marshal Petain's broadcast recently^

One of the outstanding hardships under which the French people suffer) is the expenses of the German occupa* tion, which amount to 400,000,000 francs daily—a figure out of all proportion to anything asked for from the Germans at the end of the last war.

Better arrangements for demarcation between occupied and unoccupied Prance and some betterment in the lot of or the release of French prisoners in German hands are other alleviations which it is clear are sought by Marshal Petain in the proposed collaboration with the Germans.

REPORTS DOUBTED.

It is apparently hoped that the results of this collaboration will become known in the course of the next week or so. Meanwhile, there is disinclination here to accept the accuracy of reports that the Vichy Government contemplates large surrenders of territory in metropolitan France or in the French overseas empire, and concessions to Germany which would amuuut to a betrayal of France's ally. v

Confidence that the honour of France will be upheld by the aged Marshal in these negotiations has been expressed by General Weygand. On October SO the Tangier newspaper "Depcehe Marocaine" published the following from Rabat:

"Certain foreign radio stations have broadcast reports that France has accepted terms incompatible with her national honour. The ResidencyGeneral has received from the French Government information which permits it to affirm that the said reports are devoid of all foundation."

The following message, addressed yesterday to General Nogues by General Weygand, delegate of the French Government in French Africa, has forcefully confirmed the above:—

"General Weygand warns the people of French Africa against hasty and tendentious foreign reports concerning: the attitude and orders of the French Government and asks all Governors and Residents-General to warn their people immediately in this sense. Nothing contrary to the honour or interests of France and her peoples, who entrusted themselves to it. have been or could be agreed to by the Government headed by Marshal Petain."

In London this expression of-views' by General Weygand is taken as a further indication of a wide divergence between the, attitude of General Weygand and Marshal Petain, on the one hand, and M. Laval on the other*