At was a very significant telegram which was Published in yesterday's issue reporting the Intention of Marshal Pelain's government to call a National Assembly to revise the French Constitution, for it was the first indication that the unoccupied portion of France is 10 ass under a new form of government, That it Will be based upon the Nazi model seams to be the case. At any rate that is apparently. the German view. Of course it will be claimed by the enemy' that by encouraging stich a step. they have in fact saved France {rom commune Jam, but as there is nowadays very little to choose between the Nazis on the one hand and the communists on the other it does not appear. that Franice will secure any benefit at all, but rather suffer by the disappearance of that form of democracy for which she was fighting in common with the other Allies. It is promised that the new constitution will be "bold and modern," giving back to the state its authority, sovereignty, and prestige. Tt will in fact give to the nation only that which its German mast-cers will permit it to give, and that will be a Nazi form of government. The lose of political freedom which the individual must necessarily suiter will prove a particularly severe blow to the French who have prided themselves upon the individual liberty of expression which has been theirs for generations, and for which they fought so stubbornly in their revolutions. It is indeed doubtful whether Marshal Petain will succeed in permanently foisting any stich sys~ tem upon the French nation. Ife may succeed temporarily during the war, but there cannot bbe the slightest doubt that once peace has been Teached, the national democratic genius of the French will reassert itself. Marshal Petain may be able to maintain himself in office with the assistance of the Germans to whom he so ignominiously surrendered, but the lime will come when a nation inspired by the watchwords of liberty, and fraternity will overthrow him, fand the overthrowing may be exceedingly. painful.
Berlin Bitter is interesting to note that, in connection with the British naval action against those units of the French Navy stationed at Oran which refused to join the British fleet or scuttle themselves, German officials in Berlin described it as "knifing France in the back." In all fairness fo the Germans it has to be recognized that they are something in the nature of authorities on the subject, though the aptnecs of the phrase in this particular instance is greatly to also allege that the action jest in naval history." Indeed, their knowledge of this particular subject probably exceeds their acquaintance with the of stabbing in the back, for if ever a nation conducted war meant it is the German, in this, war as in the Fast, A navy which is ordered to scuttle rather than fight, an air force which machine-guns and bombs roads crowded with refugees, which attacks and sinks hospital ships fare the weapons of a government under a man who has perjured himself so much that the world has to take it for granted that he will continue to do so. IL is only to be expected that the foresight of Mr. Churchill which has deprived Herr Hitler of another chance of breaking his solemn declarations should arouse the bitterest resentment in Berlin, the resentment of disappointment. If the Nozi governnent ever thought that the French fleet would be allowed to drop into their hands like an overripe plum, they have less intelligence than was originally' believed. 'That was one of the major spolls of war, intended by them to repair the damage which the British Navy has in-Micted upon the German fleet, Herr Hitler has been' foiled by the man he fears, and his follcials in their bitter disappointment are mere-indulging in lite abuse which does no particular harm, and to which no great amount of importance need be attached. If they were of intending to make use of the French fleet against Britain, why the resentment? World= wide reaction has on the whole been favor able, It was a stroke full of imagination and originality and as complete an upset of Ger= man plans ay enn be conceived, Retaliate in Kind It would be a wise thing at this juncture for the British Government to make it quite clear the world at large that, in the event of me discriminate bombing of non-military objectives jin Britain by the Germans, the fullest retaliag tion In kind would be resorted to, The Nazis have already intimated their intention so. by putting forward lying allegations. that British aeroplanes have been wantonly bombing, civilians, and non-military objectives, thus lay= ing the ground for. at some time in the future, claiming justification. "for what they very patently contemplate, 'There should be no doubt oft inthe minds of the Germans, or for that matter neutrals as well, that if Germany' prefers, fo fight without any Yegard for the few remaining decencies of war she will be met precisely the same spirit, The Germans have shown what they can_do in their scandatously ruthless attack upon Rotterdam, which created Such a sensation when it wax first reported, There Is not the slightest reason to believe that they will depart from their evil courses with regard to. the British Isles. Whether Great Britain makes prior announcement of her intentions in this respect or not, It is devoutly to be hoped that British bombers will behave in precisely the same manner as their German enemies. If British open towns are to be attacked, so also should German, Ita wide swathe is cut through London, the British alr force should do the same thing to Berlin, The German scheme is obviously one of terrorism, and to it a reply should be made in kind, That is the only language which the present masters of Germany understand, It is Impossible to pay ne respect to the dictates of chivalry it. by doing 30 Britain iv placed at a disadvantage viseievis of the Germans who have long since banished the word from their dictionaries. has to. be remembered that this Is now a struggle to the death, and, while it may be painful for the fine men who make up Britain's fying force to descend to the depths which the Germans have so. enthusiastically plumbed, it will have to be done, Tt is only by stich means that it will be possible to bring home to the German people the accursed things which their Jeaders are doing in Europe, and thus in their own bodies bring about that distaste for war Which alone can guarantee the witimate peace of Europe.
Sweden Not Neutral The announcement by the Swedish Foreign Office that it has given Germany permission to transport all kinds of merchandise, including war materials to Norway on Swedish railways. will come us no very great surprise, 10 those who realize the enormous pressure under which the Swedish Government has been placed uring the last few. months. With British Mining of the Skayerrak it has become desir= able from the German point of view to secure safer channel for the despatch of material 10 Norway with which it is hoped to launch an attack on the British Isles, The Swedish decision Contrasts strongly with their refusal to. permit Allied troops passage across Swedish territory for the purpose of aiding the Finns. against Russia, when Ht was because of insistence. upon the completest neutrality: that Sweden adopted the attitude she did. This permission should enable Germany to maintain a continual streen fof supplies across Denmark, with a very shot presage by sen 10 the Swedish coast and thence rail to various points in Norway, with the chance of interference from the British reduced minimum, amounts almost to. granting German war" material safe conduct across Swedish territory, and is about as unneutral fan aet as can be conceived in the ci AL the stone time it ix striking testimony to the degree of blockade which Britain has been able fo maintain of the Skagerrak and the Norwegian Const, for quite clearly it is sufficient to force the Germans to realize that by such routes would be impossible to maintain that con tinuous stream of supplies necessary for the maintenance of an attack upon the British fsles eross the North Sea. By taking the action she thas Sweden is contributing to her own downfall in the event, of a German victory, for it is not be believed that for present facilities Germany would consent to the existence of Sweden fae.a separate and independent nation. St would indeed be interesting to know what promises the German government has given to Sweden. Whatever they are, the Swedes may be certain that they ill never be implemented.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.