Evening star., 1940-10-31
French Sovereignty
Kept in Axis Deal,
'Pefain Declares
Sincere Collaboration
With Former Enemies
Urged on Country
u, the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
VICHY, France, Oct. 31.-The old
marshal of France, Henri Philippe
Petain, told his defeated people last
night that France kept "at least
our sovereignty in the deal with
Adolf Hitler, and limited that his
negotiations with the axis would
spur new steps to unite the nation
and stamp out the free French"
movement in the colonies.
French sovereignty, he said in a
surprise radio speech, demands
defense on our soil, the stamping
ont of differences of opinion and
the reduction of disSidence in the
!. colonies"
= Marshal Petain said Hitler put
no pressure on me and served no
.diktat," that the decision to COLA
Borate with the axis was his alone
and that he did it to tighten the
awful burden which the French are
bearing.
ut Is I alone whom history will
Judge" he cried.
The 84-year-old chief of state
was stern, however, in his insistence
that the collaboration" he has
agreed upon with the axis be sin
cere' on the part of the French.
up to now he warned, Il have
used the language of father. To-
day use the language of chief" :"
Text of Address.
Following is the text of Marshal
Petain's address:
Frenchmen:
Last Thursday I met the chan
cellor of the Reich.
This meeting aroused hopes and
provoked some diSquietude.
I owe you some explanations on
this matter.
Such an interview was possible
four months after the defeat of
our arms, thanks to the dignity of
Frenchmen during their hour of
trial, thanks to the immense effort
nat regeneration for which they are
ready, thanks also to the heroism
y OF our sailors, the energy of our
colonial leaders, the loyalty of our
: native populations.
y France has revived. This first
meeting between the conquerer and
conquered marks the first step in
the recovery of our country.
- Met Under No Pressure.
e- I answered the invitation of the
Fuehrer freely.
! On his part he forced me to no
+. dictate, no pressure.
Collaboration was enviSaged be-
tween OUR two countries. I accepted
. II in principle Means will be dis
eussed later.
To all those who today await the
health of France, I must say that
this health is first in our hands.
To those whose honorable scruples
have separated them from our way
of thinking must say that the
{ hrst duty Of every Frenchman is
TO have confidence.
To those who doubt, and to those
who abstain, point out they overdo
stiffness. that the finest attitudes
Of reserve and pride risk losing
, force.
Favorable Attitude a Duty.
~ Those who took the destinies of
France in hand have a duty to
create most favorable attitude to
\ safeguard the interests of the coun-
TRY.
1t is with honor and to maintain
French unity-the unity of 10 CEN
turies-in constructive activity of
the new European order that I enter
, today the road to collaboration.
In the near future the suffering
. of our country may be lightened,
. the fate Of our prisoners ameliorated,
the charges of occupation eased. The
line of demarcation may be relaxed
and the administration Of food
supply and of territory may be IA
,cilitated.
This collaboration must be sim
cere. It must be exclusive of all
thoughts of aggression. 1t must be
carried out with patient, confident
effort.
,, Obligations to COnquerer.
The armistice is not peace. France
Is held by numerous obligations to