UNDER NAZI THUMB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1941, Page 2

UNDER NAZI THUMB

DOMINATION OF VICHY. With what French circles in London describe as almost indecently grotesque hurry, the Vichy government has severed relations with the U.S.S.R. and caused Russian nationals in France to be arrested. This, these critics say. is merely another blatant proof., if yet another was necessary, of Vichy's complete subservience to Berlin. It follows, they point out, the measures against the Jews, taken in a country which was the first to grant civil rights to the Jews. It follows too, the programme announced many months ago regarding the practical reinstatement of obligatory religious instruction in French schools. This, however, was watered down and modified almost out of all semblance of its original form: Berlin, l at the time was attacking the Vatican. Vichy does not represent France, nor any part of France beyond the steps of the Hotel du Parc where an old man is obliged to deny his own words, give honour a new interpretation, at the bidding of an alleged government entirely subservient to Hitler, say the French in London.