M, Pierre Laval was removed from office a Vice-Premier and Foreign 'Minister because he had attempted to widen his own powers without overthrowing Marshal Philippe Petain, Premier, an authorized Government spokesman said today, breaking the, warday silence on the' reason for the action.
'The spokesman officially denied reports by the New 'York Times' anda. big American news agency, Hoo said that Int Laval's case involved. ternal relations and had nothing to with the rumoured German attempt to move troops eros France to help Taly in Libya, Speaking oMelally for the Govern= ment, he said that Germany had never asked for stich permission and ind never tried {0 force the parsee of troops.
"No German troops have passed Frame," he sid.
"There's considerable difference be= tween M. Laval's desire to increase hig personal power ing 'Cabinet by promoting throvsh the elimination of the cet hig title andi the New York "Pim suggestion that lie throwing' Ue Government on Sunt day"
"There is not 1 shred of evidence tempted to widen his "0% powers tain"™United Press 1,049 Dutch tnsurane Mea Were Killed Berlin, Dev The oMieial German news ax¢ D.NB. in a despatch from Amsterdam yesterday said that a weekly publica tion of Dutch insurance companies reported that the total. number. of persons—presumably all Duteb—kitled fas result of the war in Holland aum= beret 4040%-United Press
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