THE NAZIS AND FRANCE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1941, Page 4

THE NAZIS AND FRANCE.

IN spite of some remaining elements of obscurity, tlm situation in France is beginning io take definite shape. The so-called Popular Front formed in Paris obviously is a pup|»ft party formed by the Nazis to do their will. Tin* formation of this party may mean that Hitler is prepared, not only to address the Petain Government in the threatening terms he is reported to have used in his latest communication, but to displace it in favour of tin administration headed probably by Pierre Laval and prepared to give obedient and unquestioning service to Nazi Germany. There is no doubt about what Hitler desires to obtain from France. As it is used by tin* Nazis, the phrase ’’French collaboration’* means the greatest possible use oi French resources in the war against Britain and her allies. ‘AI a minimum if the Nazis bad their unimpeded way, collaboration would include the use of French naval and air bases on the Mediterranean, mu only in Southern France bait in the North African colonics, ami the use also o| tin- remaining ships of the French Fleet, cither with French crews or with German ami Italian crews. While it is not in doubt that Hitler is more than rVt-r eager and impatient to secure this measure of collaboration, it may lie doubled whether his prospects o! get Hug it ha v<! impr<a ed. h is as it has been his ditTieiilty that although the p.-tam Government is entirely at his mercy. the Government ami military administration of the North African colonies are not. It Ims been said that m their earlier scheming, both Hitler and Laval were conscious of the dangers of a sharp reaction, both hi France ami in North Africa, to too obvious a surrender to Germany In view <u Italy s rapid downhill progress and other lectors n is likely that these dangers are more than apparent to the Nazis and to those Frem-hmeji who are ready to betray their country Hitler’s problem probablv stdl is to determine whether he can afford to lay hands on what is within his rmich in Franco al the cost of bringing the French North. Atricaii colonies again into the v.ar against him ami at the cost, too nt provoking a maximum expre-som Frem-h nai um.i! spirit within ihe boundaries ot metropolitan France As to North Africa, Gpiiit.il Weygand’s latest broadcast was m> more than an appeal m g«-n-ral terms for Guth ..mi confidence. General \\ eygand ha- declared |.;s tinsw • ••. ,ng lovalty to Marshal Peiam ami Inis give;) e-,. ;-\ imhca' on » • svmpath) with the policy under which the macc.-ssil y .t . : the African colonies has been wwo b; the \ Gmerrnm m as a means <U setting some limits to Nazi oppression ami e-.. i ojjs m oectipied France F remams to lie mTh W.c G-■■■■.■■ We 11d do, am 1 wlm ? t hose tm wwh ma w’ed g : . .‘tecmy would -io. I'l ttm eVet’! ip. N.i.o V Go-.eminent I ■’ ■ ‘ mm their c>-Hir>>.