"Dictator" Granted Rights to Appoint or Dismiss Ministers, Negotiate Treaties Vichy, July 12. CLOSELY following hit assumption of office as Supreme Head of totalitarian France, Marshal Petain has been granted sweeping powers under three laws setting up the new French Constitution.
The laws were published today in the official "Journal," and under them Marshal Petain may appoint and dismiss Ministers and secretaries of state; negotiate and ratify treaties: and declare a state of siege, He cannot, however, declare war without obtaining the assent of the Legislative assemblies.
Before being granted these sweeping powers, the 84-year-old] Marshal is stated to have signed a decree under which he took] over the functions hitherto vested in the President of the French Republic and the Premier.
By this act he deposed Albert Lebrun, President since 1933, as head of the French State, Another decree signed by the Mar shal regulated the powers of the head of the State, He will exorcise full power of government in ce-operation With Ministers and under-secretaries Of state, who will be responsible to him.
The French Government intends to transfer its seat to occupied France, stated Marshal Petain in a broadcast Fast night, according to the oficial German news agency, He is stated to have asked the German military authorities whether Versailles. could be placed at the Government's dis U.S, Senate Confirms Knox Appointed Eire Asked to Join Arms with North Belfast, July 12. Lord Craigavon, the Prime Minister of Northern Treland, has issued a statement, supplementing that made in. Parliament yesterday.
He says: "The security of Eire can best be assured by taking one step that could make military ce-operation effective—the abandonment of neutrality. and the declaration of full' association with Britain' and the Empire in waging the war.
"Ulster," he. says, "has no intention of abandoning its war effort and secking illusory refuge in neutrality.
not acting selfishly, but in the highest interests of Eire and the United Kingdom. It will not be party to exposing Britain's western flank to the enemy."—Reuter, Washington, July 11.
The Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of Col. Frank Knox, publisher of the Chiegao "Dally News," as Secretary of Navy in. President Roosevelt's new coalition cabinet.
'A. bipartisan isolationist bloc' of sixteen Senators opposed Col, Kno: Appointment but he received the vot of 66 other Senators.
Confirmation of Col. Knox brought the second prominent Republican into the President's Democratic Cabinet.
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Col, Henry Stimson, former Secretary of State, as Secretary of War.—United Press.
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