FRANCE IN CHAINS.

Evening Star, Issue 23678, 11 September 1940, Page 6

FRANCE IN CHAINS.

lx a few 'pointed words General de Gaulle reveals the motives that are behind the staging of the Vichy trials. “ The Vichy Government,” he says, “ acting under Hitler’s horsewhip aud Mussolini’s lash, has the task of convincing the world that France was wrong to enter the war.” This piece of theatricalism, engineered by the Nazis of will convince no one, for the motives of the French Government were made abundantly clear when the fateful hour struck in September last. They were unimpeachable. The pity of it is that the German secret service was so successful in establishing a “ fifth column ” in tho country. As the days pass and revelations come to light, it is clear that France was enveloped in a network of intrigue while the war was progressing. Perhaps the most active of those who have been taking part in the disintegrating influences that have brought about the country’s present distresses is M. Laval, who, as Vice-Premier, occupies second place in the Vichy Government to the octogenarian Marshal Petain, who obviously is past effective work. This aged soldier appears to have had one consuming passion that was largely responsible for his recent actions, and that was hatred of Communism, which in recent years has had a strong hold in the country.

But it is realised now that Petain has been, and still is, a mere figurehead, and that the real leader of the Vichy Government’s forces is Laval. An American writer, commenting on the position, says that this politician was one man who .thought he could have saved France from Hitler—if Franco had been willing to pay the price. Laval’s policy was co-operation with Italy to keep Germany behind the Rhine and the Brenner. But that policy came into conflict with Great Britain’s concern that Italy should not be too strong in the. Mediterranean, and with the French people’s dislike of Fascism, be it German or Italian. Whether this is so or not, there is no doubt that Laval was opposed to the war policy of Reynaud and Daladier. After Sedan, and when Weygand, who had been called in as the position became desperate, said the battle was lost, there was a rapid change in the political position. Petain assumed control, and Baudouin, the Foreign Minister, who was a close friend of Lav;al, deserted Reynaud and switched over to the new order. These men made peace and took over France with the tacit consent of Hitler. In declaring the new Government’s policy Laval said that all strikes and lockouts would be banned. Any politician who ever played with the Popular Front of Leon Blum and Edouard Daladier would be barred from power, also any persons of alien birth—i.e., Jews. Thus we see everything cut to the approved Nazi pattern.

The problem is as to how long the French people can be held under the prevailing regime, which will be intolerable to the great majority. A representative of the Quaker relief organisation, speaking in New York, said the Germans were doing nothing to help the inhabitants of the unoccupied zones in France, which are faced with famine. It can be imagined that the conditions in the areas under Nazi control will bo little better. Now we are to have the spectacle of a farcical trial of political loaders and others who, working for the honour of their country, are to bo charged with crimes for which Germany is responsible. The French people are suffering bitterly from the humiliation of the German occupation, and their hatred of the Germans is intense. Bub when people are in such a state of distress they look for scapegoats only too readily, and to exploit this feeling is the aim of those who are promoting the Vichy trials.