1f Marshal Petain had not already made-his position clear. he has left no room for doubt as to what is the policy he intends to follow with regard to the reconstruction of ""IFrance. It is well on the way to becoming /a Fascist state which will closely collaborate with Hitler in his attempt to establish a new.order in Europe. "The Marshal looks forward to escaping from the temporary relations with Germany and Italy created by the armistice asin order to establish "more stable ties without which the European order cannot be built." ^"That very definitely indicates that the Vichy Government contemplates entering the Axis camp, perhaps not as an active ally, but at least as a collaborator. The rift France and her former ally is about complete.
-worsening of French relations with the aston there is a grave danger of the United States because the Government of the igatter country fully realizes the trend of Poly, ana Marshal Petain's broadcei 3 mend that under. nothing to ai [States that parliamentary detasare He has informed the public of the
France is dead, explaining that it was never Quite the same as that of the people he was addressing. But it is clear from the rest of his speech that in its place an authoritarian Government is to be established completely foreign to those ideals: which inspired the French revolution and brought freedom to a; people which had long suffered under th monarchy. What he- contemplates is 4 tyranny—benevolent, perhaps, but nevertheless a tyranny. This falling into line with Germany may be the precursor of a more Jáctive cooperation with the enemy: and it
"future it is found that Admiral Darlan will Jill not be surprising if in the not too distant have achieved. his ambition of completely mans into the areas under the possibility of their for action against Great tually the United States are render his position in the than a little uneasy. That is Marshal Petain has said nothing to There are undoubtedly men animated by shame and. envy Britain who would willingly go lengths in order to contribute to of that country. and it appears that only personality of the Marshal stands between them and the fulfilment of their desires.
The Marshal's attitude with regard to the German invasion of Russia is clear. He regards it as a gigantic German task involving the defence of a civilization, showing he has adopted the Hitlerian idea of this latest example of wanton. aggression as in the nature of 'a crusade. Tt has been said that cne of the reasons for the French decision to capitulate was the fear that, if the struggle against Germany had been carried om Communism would have prevailed in France. It is doubtful whether that would have been any worse than the form of Government which the Marshal now appears to favour. but those who prevailed upon the French Government to surrender undoubtedly. served their own purposes rather than the interests of their country. Those men are at present in power. They have indeed brought France very low for if that country had done what it was hoped she would. namely continue the struggle from her colonies a very different state of affairs would exist in the Mediterranean and victory for the democracies would be even nearer than it is now.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.