Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

WITHOUT LEADERS

PEOPLE OF FRANCE BETRAYED VICHY TRAITORS WITHOUT ILLUSIONS. PETAIN'S RULE NO MORE THAN NOMINAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 22. “The Times” says: “There is apparently no German demand, however humiliating, which the Vichy Government can or will refuse. “The extent of the French complicity in Germany’s military operations is attested by abundant evidence that Vichy so far has withheld from the French nation President Roosevelt’s recent protest and warning. The men of Vichy have no illusions regarding the detestation their policy would provoke among the masses of the French people, who at heart are still loyal to their old sympathies, and still imbued with the traditional love of freedom, but France is suffering an absolute bankruptcy of leadership.

“Marshal Petain’s rule is clearly no more than nominal. The policy is dictated and carried out by men without loyalty, without conviction, and without any programme except personal profit and advancement.” ACTS OF VICHY OF NECESSITY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN SHAPING BRITISH WAR POLICY. MR EDEN'S STATEMENT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, May 22. An important statement on British relations with the Vichy Government, in light of recent developments, was made in the House of Commons by Mr Anthony Eden (Foreign Secretary), who said it was announced in Vichy on May 14 that Admiral Darlan’s report on his visit to Hitler had been unanimously approved by the Vichy Government and that the effect of these deliberations would shortly be felt.

On the following day Marshal Petain broadcast a short statement to the French people, appealing for unquestioning acceptance, whatever results might issue from the negotiations between Admiral Darlan and the German Government. “These negotiations have been described in Vichy as opening up a new phase in Franco-German collaboration of which no doubt the action of the Vichy Government, in allowing Syrian aerodromes to be used by German aircraft, is an example, said Mr Eden. President Roosevelt has staled clearly his views of this new and sinister development in the Vichy policy and the United States Government has alreadytaken certain preventive action in re-gard-to French shipping in United States ports. In the confused and uneasy explanations which have been put out in Vichy, it has been suggested that the policy of collaboration between Vichy and Germany is to be political and economic only, and it has been stated that Vichy has no intention ol attacking Britain and still less the United States. These explanations cannot conceal that Vichy has embarked upon a course which must place the resources and territories of France and her Empire increasingly at the disposal' of a power which is the enemy not only of France’s former ally, but of France herself. The French peoplewill, the British Government is sure, regard this policy as incompatible With the honour of France, nor will they believe that the future of France and her Empire will be better served by surrendering them to Hitler’s socalled new order than by resolutely maintaining and defending their independence until such time as the victorious Allies shall complete their liberation. “Britain must, however, take account of the acts of Vichy. If Vichy, in pursuance of its declared policy of collaboration with the enemy, take action or permit action detrimental to our conduct of the war, or designed to assist the enemy’s effort, we shall naturally hold ourselves free to attack the enemy wherever he may be found, and in so doing we shall no longer feel bound to draw any distinction between occupied and unoccupied territory in the execution of cur military plans. On August 7 Britain assured General de Gaulle that it was Britain's determination, when victory was won, to secure full restoration of the independence and greatness of France. It rests with the French people to determine whether they will play a part in assisting those who have continued to fight for the liberation of France or whether France henceforth will serve in the ranks of Germany’s satellites.”

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAITA19410523.2.31.3

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1941, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
661

WITHOUT LEADERS Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1941, Page 5

WITHOUT LEADERS Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1941, Page 5

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert