Even before the war, declining birth-rate was one of France's chief problems. Now a period of almost complete barrenness is setting in, and this period is likely to last for a long time. For there is little likelihood that these unfortunate 1:800.000 captives will see freedom until after the Serious observers can see only one possibility of the release of any large number of prisoners. If the time should come when the Germans want M, Laval swept back into power and with some popular support. something he has lacked entirely up to now, they might liberate some thousands of prisoners. taking care to see that a great propaganda campaign gave M. Laval all credit.
Under such conditions his unpopularity might well change to popularity, because the depth of feeling on the prisoner question is something which cannot be overestimated. In the overwhelming joy of receiving back their husbands, sons and brothers. simple French families might not be too analytical of the motives of the man who obtained their liberation, war.
"Don't be fooled by any talk of liberating the prisoners," an extremely well-informed official told me in Paris, "They are in for the duration of the war, no matter how many years it lasts or which way it goes.
They are too valuable to Hitler where they are. Remember, almost every family in France has at least one relative among the prisoners, By promising to better, or threatening to make worse, the condition of the prisoners, Hitler can exercise a dia-helically strong influence on the French public.
"Also, you must remember. these 1,800000 prisoners represent most of the virile force of France. By keeping them locked up. Hitler not only assures his defence against revolt of the French for the present. but he is weakening future generations by keeping the birth-rate down."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.