APPEAL FOR TRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1940, Page 5

APPEAL FOR TRUST

BROADCAST BY MARSHAL PETAIN COLLABORATION WITH NAZIS. IN “NEW EUROPEAN ORDER.” (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 30. Marshal Petain, in a broadcast, said: “My interview with Herr Hitler, which has raised hope and caused anxiety, was made possible thanks to the dignity of the French people in the face of their ordeal. Thanks to their enormous effort toward regeneration, thanks to the heroism of our sailors, the energy of the colonial leaders, and the loyalty of the native populations, France has rallied. This first meeting between victor and vanquished signifies France’s first vindication. "I have accepted the principles of collaboration between the two countries. The salvation of France first duty of every Frenchman is to trust. I remind those who are doubting, those who are hardening their hearts, that that most praiseworthy virtue, pride, if persisted in to excess, is in danger of losing its effectiveness. He who takes charge of France’s destiny has a duty to create the most favourable atmosphere to safeguard the country's interest. “I entered the road of collaboration with honour in order to maintain French unity within the framework of the new European order. I met Herr Hitler of my own free will and was not under dictation or pressure from him. We discussed collaboration. The method of application will be announced later. Collaboration must be sincere, though aggression must be excluded. France has numerous obligations .to the victor. France’s sovereignty imposes an obligation to defend her soil. Follow me and keep trust in eternal France.” GERMAN PLUNDER LEADING FRANCE TO FAMINE. LONDON, October 30. German plunder is leading France to famine, according to the Ministry of Economic Warfare. The bread ration is 87 ounces a head weekly as the result of the removal of at least 800,000 tons of wheat to Germany. The meat ration is 12J ounces a week, five ounces less than in Germany, to which considerable live stock has been transported. A million pigs were removed in a fortnight in September and also thousands of cattle. The average pre-war consumption of butter has fallen from 17 kilos to five to six kilos. France originally was self-sufficient in sugar, but about 80 per cent of the crop was lost in 1940 because of fighting in the north. The Germans requisitioned the whole of the Bordeaux grape harvest. One firm delivered 12,000,000 bottles of champagne to Germany.