STORIES IN CONFLICT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1941, Page 9

STORIES IN CONFLICT

Nazi action against FRANCE — I HUNGRY EYES ON BASES IN MEDITERRANEAN. THE NEW PUPPET PARTY. I 'By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright’ LONDON. February 2. Though Spanish observers in Berlin do not believe Hiller is contemplating drastic action against France at present. other sources consider that the Franco-German situation may be approaching a crisis. The latest move is Admiral Darlan's departure for Paris, where, according to the Rome radio, he is to meet Vichy’s representative in occupied France. M. de Brinon. through whom Hitler sent his latest Note to Marshal Petain. The Free French news agency in London says that the Note, which is couched in threatening terms, not only demands a change in the French Government. with the rehitroduction of politicians who are prepared to collaborate with Germany, but also alludes to the strategic situation in the Mediterranean. Presumably this is directed at Bizerta, Tunisia, upon which Hitler for some time has been casting hungry eyes, it states. Spanish correspondents in Berlin report that Hitler’s note is short and cold, but say that German officials are noncommittal about it. Some of these correspondents say that Germany does 1 not contemplate any drastic action at present, and one says it must not be forgotten that a great part of Marshal Petain's strength lies in the discipline and calm shown by the French colonial army and fleet. On the other hand, the newspaper

"A.8.C.” says the Germans may be on the verge of an important decision relating to France. The formation of a German-inspired parly in Paris has led to no major developments. Correspondents with close knowledge of France, believe that the German inspiration is too clear to make any appeal to the French people. A London commentator who has lived in Paris said that reports that the Germans were organising a "popular front" in Paris seemed too cynical to be true. The Nazi mind, however, did not see anything illogical in exalting today what it had condemned yesterday. Now Hitler had formed a “popular front" of his own, and had actually taken the name from the original French people's movement against which he had fulminated so often. The commentator said that when he was in Germany in 1936 the papers were full of caricatures of M. Blum and other leaders of the French "Popular Front.” and he had been told that the movement would be the ruin of France. The villain of the piece was. of course. M. Laval, but he was in the background at the moment. This champion of collaboration with Germany was obviously plotting to overthrow the Vichy Government, take control, and sell out his country to the conquerors, but ho would still have French public opinion to reckon j with.