VICHY TREASON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1942, Page 4

VICHY TREASON

LAVAL’S PRO=NAZI SCHEMES FORMATION OF TRICOLOUR LEGION. USE AGAINST DE GAULLISTS. (By Egon Kaskeline, in the “Christian Science Monitor.”) While the Laval Government in Vichy has undoubtedly done much to facilitate the German successes in Libya, there is every indication that Pierre Laval is preparing for far closer co-operation with the Nazis when he, as the Chief of the Government, considers the moment for a shift from neutrality to belligerence has arrived. One important element in this coming change is the socalled Tricolour Legion. This force has been organised to become the “commando” units of the pro-Vichy and Pro-Fascist groups in France. Hitherto this legion, raised as antiBolshevist volunteers and commanded by Colonel JEric Labonne and the Fascist leader Jacques Doriot, had not been officially recognised by Vichy. Marshal Philippe Petain, Chief of State, had expressed his sympathy for the anti-Bolshevist cause, but recruiting of volunteers had been prohibited in the unoccupied zone. The French expeditionary corps was sent to the Russian front, but soon returned, having proved a completely unreliable unit. Today this organisation has been officially sponsored by the Laval Government, and under the name .of the Tricolour Legion is to fight against “American imperialism and AngloSaxon greed.” Count Jacques Benoit-Mechin, Secretary of State in Vichy’s Foreign Ministry and one of Germany’s agents in the Laval Government, became chairman of the new organisation which is also supervised by Paul Marion, Vichy’s Minister of Information. ANTI-ALLIED FORCE. Even more important than the direct Government control of the new organisation is the fact that it is closely linked to the “Legion of French ExServicemen” which comprises -the most active partisans of the Government. It was M. Laval himself who addressed the first meeting of the new Tricolour Legion. The military value of the new Legion is doubtful and they will not be sent to fight against ithe British in Egypt or against the Free French colonies.

These formations of unruly elements and professional soldiers, which : m.ay be compared to the German “Balticum Troops,” forerunners of the Nazi storm -troopers, are -likely to be -used against the de Gaullists and pro-British partisans in France. They will form an anti-Sixth Column. In the case of an Allied invasion of the continent the new Vichy storm troopers will have an -important role to play. In recent weeks, the tunderground movement in France has .been successfully organised to act against the German rear. France’s secret .army accepted the leadership of General Charles de Gaulle; they are fairly well armed and will strike when .the hour of freedom has come. The task of the underground movement will be much more complicated when they are obliged to fight not only against the Germans but against organised units of -their own pro-Fascist countrymen. RUTHLESS PERSECUTION. •Persecution of all anti-Vichy and anti-German elements in France is increasingly ruthless every day . Latest reports from France which are perhaps somewhat -exaggerated reveal that not less than 400,000 Frenchmen are interned in concentration camps, 120,000 of them in the unoccupied zone. • * ■

Leaders of the new,Legion are openly clamouring for armed intervention against the British and. against -the Free French. Broadcasts from the Vichy radio, which is controlled by Paul Marion, one of the sponsors of the Legion, increase in anti-Anglo-Saxon violence every day. M. Laval, however, who today has succeeded in concentrating all actual power in hands, is not .likely to be influenced by -the impatience of .his followers. He will not strike until ..the military situation appears undoubtedly favourable to the Axis. If, .however, he believes that this hour has come, he will not hesitate to throw .the remnants of France’s power in the balance and to commit his country to open warfare against .the Allied .Nations. Vichy -therefore is a -reliable .barometer indicating .the situation .on (the battle .-fronts. It -was by no .means .fortuitous that simultaneously with the serious British setback in Libya, M. Laval proclaimed his hope in Germany’s final victory. Since his return to power, M. Laval so far had refrained from expressing his hostile feeling toward the United Nations. It is not likely that these threatening words will be followed. by immediate action against the Allies. Momentarily, M. Laval will continue to sit on the fence watching closely the military developments. Yet, .the Vichy Government increasingly supplies General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s invasion army. Short of military commitments,. M. Laval increasingly leads Vichy -into the Axis camp.