Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1940. NAZI PRESSURE ON FRANCE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 October 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1940. NAZI PRESSURE ON FRANCE.

“QINCE the collapse of France,” an American correspondent, wrote recently, ‘‘Pierre Laval, Vice-Premier of the new authoritarian government has had to bear a large share o tie blame for the tragic events of the past few weeks. But. is he the traitor that popular opinion believes him to be Any doubts on this point will be resolved decisively if tlieie is any truth in the report'transmitted yesterday that M Lay al vas negotiating’ on the following suggested basis foi a. final armistice: —

France to surrender Alsace, Lorraine, Nice, Tunis and J'bybGermany and Italy, in return, would promise not to steal anythin,, else provided the men of Vichy declared war on Britain.

Against this it is said to have been stated officially in Vichy that France does not contemplate taking part m any war agains;. anyone, but would defend the French Empire. The Vichy Fo’reion Minister, M. Baudouin, is quoted, however, as declaring that "failure to collaborate with the Germans would be insane, imbecile and absurd.”

While M. Laval is definitely open to the suspicion of being minded to crown the betrayal of his country; of which he has already been gniltv, M. Baudouin’s declaration suggests that he remains readv, ‘as he has been, to play the part of minor accomplice in that policy. Whatever else may be in doubt it certainly is no true son of France who denounces failure to ‘‘collaborate” with the Germans. The use of the word collaborate” in such a sense is an insult to the French people who are being oppressed and exploited ruthlessly by their Nazi as \- m asters and undoubtedly would be doomed to permanent enslavement if these taskmasters had their way. In common with other occupied countries, France is being despoiled of foodstuffs and supplies of all kinds under a pretence ol payment with worthless paper money. It is well known, too that the Nazis make a mock of good faith and take pride in deluding their victims with false promises. In these circumstances there, can be no difficulty in placing and defining a French Minister who talks of collaborating with the Germans.

Unfortunately’ it cannot be doubted that in whatever schemes they may be hatching to use French military 7 or other resources against Britain, the Nazis will find instruments ready to their hands in men like Laval and Baudouin. Whatever immediate safeguards the situation holds must be looked for in the character and resolution of the French people and in their awakening perception of the vile manner in which they have been and are being betrayed.

It is entirely typical of Nazi methods that side by side with suggestive evidence of an attempt, to make France the war partner of the Reich there comes news of talk in the organ of the German Storm Troopers of the possibility of a compromise peace between Britain and the Axis. The whole answer to such an overture of course is that any move by the Nazis, whatever form it may purport to take, can be regarded as nothing else, than part and parcel of their conspiracy against humanity. On the other hand, the peace appeal made by Signor Ansaldo in Count Ciano’s paper conceivably may be a more or less genuine indication of Italian weakening. There is a good deal to suggest that Italy feels deeply distressed at the position in which 'she finds herself. If she has any way out, however, presumably it can be only in surrender.