NAZI ORDERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1940, Page 5

NAZI ORDERS

FRANCE ACCEPTS NEW CONSTITUTION DECISION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. POWERS GIVEN TO PETAIN GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, July 10. The French National Assembly met in secret session this afternoon at Vichy to vote on the resolution giving full power to the Detain Government to change the Constitution of France. The text of the Constitution Bill was reported to be as follows: “The National Assembly gives all powers to the Government of the Republic under the authority and signature of Marsha] Petain for the purpose of promulgating, by one or more Acts, the new Constitution of the French State.” The voting was 569 for and 80 against, and 15 of those present did not vote. Later is was reported that the first result of the secret session is that the new Constitution, when drafted, will be submitted to the people for their approval by referendum. The preamble to the resolution stated that in the cruellest moment of its history France must accept the necessity for a national Government, which must have all power to save what could be saved and destroy what could be destroyed, and that the nation must take its place under the Continental system of production and exchange. France must return primarily to her agricultural and peasant character. The Premier, Marshal Petain, was not present. He sent a message asking to be excused from attending. In his message he agreed that the Constitution should be submitted to the people of France, and the Assembly agreed to this. Before the proceedings began the President, of the Assembly read letters and telegrams from members excusing their absence. When M. Daladier s name was read some members of the extreme Right defended him, also another deputy, in a violent speech. It is reported that a statement on the Petain Government’s proposals was given io the Assembly by M. Laval. The Bill means that the Petain Government is given a free hand to rule as it pleases, stated a London commentator. There is no indication how the referendum will be conducted and whether it will cover the whole of France or only the non-occupied teniThe preamble makes it •clear that the new Constitution is being made in Rome and Berlin. There are already many proofs that the Petain Government is really under German control, and decrees which are being issued appear to have been drawn up first in Germany, in German, and are so involved that translation into French makes them almost unintelligible.

MINISTER IN CANADA remaining at his post. OTTAWA, July 10. In spite of the severance of relations between the British and French Governments, the French Minister at Ottawa, M. Rene Ristelhueber, will remain at his post, since he is accredited to an autonomous Canada. Rear-Admiral Percy Nelles announced that the French luxury liner Pasteur will remain at Halifax “till further notice.” DEFIANT ENVOY DISMISSAL OF MINISTER AT LISBON. LONDON, July 11. The German radio says that the French Minister at Lisbon has been dismissed for refusal to return to France. T ENEMY TERRITORY FRANCE AND NORTH AFRICAN ; COLONIES. LONDON, July IL’ The Board of Trade announced That the whole of French territory in Europe and also Corsica, Algeria and the French zone in Morocco and Tunisia were now enemy territory for the purpose of the Trading with the Enemy Act.