VICHY CABINET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1941, Page 5

VICHY CABINET

PROSPECTIVE CHANGES SAID TO BE RESISTED BY PETAIN. CONCENTRATED NAZI PRESSURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. April 22. According: I<> <’i hig’li !1,l ‘ llioritative source in Vichy, important changes in the French Cabinet, are imminent, says “The Times’ ” correspondent on the French Irontier. Under the present unrelenting two-way pressure, Marshal Petain must very soon decide for the Axis or for the present democracies. The American Ambassador. Admiral Leahy, and Marshal Petain have had many long conversations, the ’ correspondent says. Admiral Darlan, the Marshal’s deputy, whose policy has not satisfied Berlin and is alienating Washington, is definitely expected to retire from politics and resume an admiral’s duties. His successor will most probably be M. De Brinon, whose ambassadorial functions in Paris will then be assumed by M. Laval. . M. Laval’s position is expected to become exceedingly influential, because the Armistice Commission would be transferred from Wiesbaden to Faris, and Admiral Darlan’s disappearance would result in M. Laval becoming Marshal Petain’s successor presumptive. Marshal Petain is resisting these proposed changes because they would enhance the influence of the party favouring France’s collaboration with the Axis, and would seriously compromise French-American relations, which Marshal Petain wishes to safeguard: but nobody in Vichy is prepared to predict whether the Marshal is personally strong enough to resist permanently the concentrated and unremitting pressure by the Axis, even with Admiral Leahy’s support. The Vichy newspapers have increased their anti-British campaign and are jeering at developments in Libya and Greece and. criticising the British Navy. PETROL HANDED OVER. The Berlin correspondent of the Swiss newspaper “Neuezuercher Zeitung” says it is understood that the Germans are anxious to have General Weygand recalled because he is a stumbling block in their hopes of using French North Africa as a base for military operations. The independent French news agency reports that the Vichy authorities have handed over to the Germans and Italians large stores of petrol .accumulated at various bases between Tunis and the Libyan border. In a speech the Free French leader, General de Gaulle, said that the present French Government could not move a single French ship or a single French sailor without the authorisation of the Armistice Commission. It was announced in the House of commons today that since January 1 18 French ships have been intercepted by the British blockade control. Of these, 11 have been brought into Gibraltar and the remainder to other ports. Four were outward bound from unoccupied France and one from, occupied France and the rest were inward bound.