The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-29
FRENCH CAPITAL
HIT BY DOLDRUMS
People Are All Longing for
Paris-Three Colonies
Go to Britain
BY RALPH HEINZEN
United Press Staff Correspondent

UNITED Press STAN COrreSpondent)
vichy, France, Aug. 29.-UP)-
The doldrums have settled over this
provisional French capital.
There is little left to do here but
stroll, gossip and eat, and every
body Is homesick for Paris.
The novelty of Vichy's health re-
sorts has worn off. Everyone has
had the 21-day cure, has slipped
from all the springs, promenaded
on the covered walks and lounged
in all the hotel Hobbies. They would
like to go back to the city Of light
even though it is said that under
German occupation, the people of
Paris now have to stand in line for
hours to buy enough food for a
meal.
The late summer rains have start
ed, indicating an early autumn,
and the gloom deepens every day.
Nothing Permanent
Nothing seems permanent in
Vichy. After two months, the gov
eminent is still camped in bedrooms
waiting for German permission to
go back to Paris and to Versailles.
Premier Marshal Philippe Petain
has announced in a radio, speech
that it Isn't his fault; that he has
applied for permission to go back
but that the Germans have with
held it "for material reasons"
AS long as the government stays,
the army functionarieS, diplomats
and newspaper, men will continue to
populate this once gay Spa, where
in times past there were two Ca
sinos, three bathing establishments,
music concerts in the park after
moons and evenings, outdoor movies,
golf and horse racing.
Now, Vichy is BACKED out every
night against the possibility that a
stray, hostile bomber will come. Two
movie theaters show films of 1880
vintage. Bars are open only three
days week. Melancholy diplomats
sit all day in the lobby of the hotel
which has been turned over to them
and where the Japanese ambassador
Reno Sawada, and the Chinese am
bassador, DR.. v. K. Wellington Koo,
live in adjoining bedrooms in good
neighborliness.
Strolling Is Pastime
The favorite pastime is Strolling
the quarter-mile path between the
Ambassador and Du Pare hotels.
Everybody does this every day on set
hours, it would seem, and there are
few secrets in the town.
Another diversion is sitting I'M
der the trees of Thermal park, the
hunting ground for "canards." Ru-
mors of all kinds assume enormous
proportions here, as they are ex-
banded from mouth to mouth. The
severity of the censorship and con-
sequent lack of official news con-
tributes to them.
As If to douse any revival of spir-
its, Interior Minister Adrien Mar
quet, whose ofiices occupy the Park
Casinos baccarat rooms. instructed
projects throughout unoccupied
France to maintain the ban against
all festivals and theatricals. even
those under charity sponsorship. as
a constant reminder Of the nations
mourning. Reports from Paris that
the Germans have reopened the
Coincide FRANCHISE and other thea
tiers contribute little to the vichy
morale.
Colonies With Britain
Vichy, Aug. 20.-(uP)-France
announced today that three French
colonies have thrown In their lot
with Britain and the free" French
government Of Gen Charles De-
gaulle by formally revoking the COM
missions Of the governors general OF
Chad. the Cameroons and New CAL
edonia.
The action followed ofiicial French
accusation yesterday that Britain,
through Degaulle, was fomenting
secession movements In French AZ
rlcan colonies.
Chad rs q colony In equatorial AZ
RIGA. Through rs governor general
II announced acceptance Of British
protection.
The Camsroons comprise = West
African French colony taken from
Germany under the Versailles
treaty. New Caledonia Il q Pacific
colony IA which residents demon