Evening star., 1940-12-17

! representative, German Ambassador
Otto Abetz, Pierre Laval reappeared
suddenly in Vichy today for lunch.
con talk with Herr Abetz and Chief
OF State Henri Philippe Petain.
1t was the first time the ousted
| Vice Premier and Foreign Minister
had been seen in Vichv since he Was
expelled from the French cabinet
Friday night and led away under
guard.
His temperance increased the
anxiety of many veteran FrcHct,
officials whose usual tranquility in
the face OF government uoheavals
had been upset by Herr Abetz own
dramatic arrival yesterday Win a
picked Nazi guard and a German
delegation.
Total German occupation of
France, some observers said may
be foreshadoWed in the Abetz visit
the first to Vichy of an ranking
Nazl official since the aImistlce
Rumors spread that the Germans
want M. Laval, once the old mar
ShalS own choice as his successor,
back in his job. But reports reach
ing diplomatic quarters here said
it was more likely that Herr Abetz
merely wished TO hear M Lavals
side of the story before making any
report to Hitler.
Petain Reported Cool.
Marshal Petain, according 10 his
aides and those who saw him. re-
mained cool, however. in his talks
with Germanys fleckled. smiling
Ambassador, these reports said.
The chief Of Marshal Petaln S
personal Office drove out OF Vichy
early today and returned Just be-
fore noon with NJ. Laval seated ce-
side him in an automobile.
AS the Petaln- -AbetZ converse
ton shifted from the CHIEF of states
office 10 private dining room in
the Hotel du Pare. with NJ. La
val as third oonferee. it was re-
ported that 4 Pc Hitler meeting
might follow if the Fuehrer'5 rep-
feSentatlve and Marshal Petain
agreed on future policy OF French
German collaboration.
II they don't-according to Vichy
rumors-anything might happen.
Herr Abetz. aside from conferrinp
with Marshal Petain and NJ. Laval
also was said to be planning to talk
with several members of the French
cabinet, including Minister of the
Interior Marcel Peyrouton-
here as being M. Laval's principa]
enemy IN the cabinet-and Pierre
Etlenne Flandin, who succeeded M
Laval as foreign minister.
But Gen. Maxine Weygand. who
sources here said was the man Herr
Abetz wanted to talk to most, was
not in Vichy. He was in North
Africa and showed every intention
OF remaining there.
Gen. Weygand, former Allied gen.
erallsslmo and now commander OF
French forces in North Africa, was
said to be following Vichy events
| closely. But If he was in constant
touch with Marshal Petain, as diplo-
matte reports said, there was little
external sign of it at Vichy
Tables Turned, Observers Say.
Many observers have been COM
pairing Gen. Weygand's present po-
sition in North Africa with that OF
Italy's position of potential menace
when France was fighting for her
life in Flanders.
The tables, they said, now are
turned. 1taly's troops are hard
pressed by Greek forces in Albania
and by the British along the Egyp-
tian-Llbyan border At Italy'S back
in Africa stands Gen. Weygand with
a strong, Well-armed force of French
colonial troops untouched by the
war.
Military and diplomatic observers
however, considered it unlikely that
Gen. Weygand intends to do more
than hold tight in Frances North
African possessions for the present
particularly SO long as Marshal Pc
tain rules in Vichy.
Nonetheless, diplomatic reports in
dicated Gen. Weygand looms large
among the reasons why Berlin may
think twice before occupying the
rest of France, or forcing Marshal
Petaln to step down from the post
Of chief of state.
Believed Facing Tough Job.
M. Flandin, sad-faced former pre-
mier who stepped into Lavals For.
elgn Ministry post with reputation
for desiring French-German collab-
grafton, has tough job, diplomatic
officials here believe.
Since 1886, when his appeal for
collective action against Germany
for occupation of the Rhineland
met no response in England, he has
thumped almost alone for French
German understanding
The big question in Vichy during
the Abetz talks was reported here as
whether the German government
could get Marshal Petains promise
to back up NJ Flandin's policies,
Germany needed no such promise
from M. Laval who also was Vice
Premier and as such welded powers
delegated to him by Marshal Petain.
M. Flandin, however, has no such
power now, although it was reported
from Vichy that Marshal Petain
&o1l 1l-,x - ,r~I,A