FINAL MEETING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 April 1942, Page 4

FINAL MEETING

OF THE PETAIN CABINET LAVAL’S REPORTED TEAM. CONTROL OVER KEY MINISTERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, Noon.) LONDON, April 17. After the final meeting of the French Cabinet, a communique was issued stating that all the Ministers had handed in their resignations to Marshal Petain. Admiral Darlan was designated as successor to Marshal Petain and agreed to take command of land, sea and air forces. Marshal Petain thanks cd Admiral Darlan and Ministers for the devoted help they had given him. The British United Press Vichy correspondent reports, without confirmation, that Laval handed Marshal Petain the following list of members of Cabinet: — Chief of the Government, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Propaganda, M. Laval. Minister for War, General Dentz or General .Bridou. Minister of Air Affairs, General Jennequin. Minister of the Navy, Admiral Aphanz. Minister of Finance, M. Pierre Cathala. , Minister of Labour, M. Jean Lagardelle. Minister of Justice, M. Barthelemy. The Vichy news agency states that it seems that M. Laval intends to exercise direct authority over several key Ministers. Thus the reconstruction of the Cabinet will affect both men and methods. The Moscow radio quotes a dispatch from Berne stating that cries “We are betrayed again!” were heard during an anti-Laval demonstration at ClermontFerrand. The crowd became excited when Laval’s appointment was announced by a loud-speaker.