ADMIRAL DARLAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1941, Page 5

ADMIRAL DARLAN

NAMED AS SUCCESSOR TO PETAIN WIDE POWERS DECREED. SOME FURTHER CHANGES IN PROSPECT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. February 10. A decree lias been issued ii. Vichy providing for Admiral Darlan to take over the duties of the Chief of State should Marshal Petain "be prevented for any reason from fulfilling his functions.” Failing Admiral Darlan, it is decreed a person nominated by a majority of the Cabinet should carry on. Admiral Darlan yesterday took over the office of Foreign Minister from M. Flandin. and was nominated vicc-Pre-mier as well as retaining his post as Minister of the Navy. Reports from Vichy say that indications arc that further Cabinet changes will not take place before the middle of this week, and that Admiral Darlan may take over a number of other Ministries.

There is still no hint of M. Laval’s intentions since he refused an offer by Marshal Petain to enter the Cabinet. The Toulouse radio said that M. Flandin resigned because of a personal campaign against him. A Paris Press announcer added: “A difficult situation has arisen in our relations with the occupying Power. While, under the Flandin policy, collaboration is being continued in technical matters .the German authorities still maintain their opposition in the political field."