The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-18

LII SLdLG, dIlu AUGIZ, W1IO Cd1t for Adolf Hitler of Laval's summary dismissal.
 Laval then went to his chateau at Chateldon near Vichy.
 Abetz went to the chateau last night, it was learned, after ending his talks with Petain and other government leaders and conferred with Laval.
 Abetz and Laval returned to Vichy together, and left at about the same time = but it was understood sep parately - for Paris.
 Laval Butchers Hog
 I went to Chateldon yesterday afternoon and found Laval watching the butchering of a fat hog under the historic walls of his castle. He also visited his mineral springs and walked his dogs in the sunshine.
 The police guard about the castle was lifted shortly before noon and the castle doors were opened to al- low the family outside for the first time in three days.
 Immediately villages, many Of whom were school mates of Laval, the butchers son, climbed the steep hill to the castle to offer their sym pathy.
 I was his only afternoon visitor. l walked with him on his errandS to the village and heard his story of the happenings of Friday, the 18th, which led to the overthrow Of the man who shared with Petain the feat of having completed national revolution in six months without shedding single drop of blood.
 I left when the telephone an- nounced the imminent arrival of AbetZ.
 Pierre To All
 In his native village where his birthplace is now the post office, alongside the steep road leading to the castle, Laval is Pierre" to all. The butcher, cutting up a freshly killed pig, wiped his red hands on his apron to salute his school mate. Across the village square, Laval pointed out the honely gray monu- ment to the villages World War dead = more than 40. Engraved with other names is that of Lavals brother, Captain Jean Laval. killed il aistion. The death of his brother had always greatly influenced La vars attitude on international af- fairs and prompted many of his pacifiSt efforts.
 Laval refuses to give to the public his own story He is not forbidden to talk but refuses to say for quo tatitn anything about his over throw or his confinement to his castle.
 However, I am permitted to say:
 Laval does not believe his political career is ended. He still believes France will fulfill his agreement with Joachim Won Ribbentrop, Ger man foreign minister, which was the basis for the pact of collaboration reached by Petain and Hitler. He remains convinced that Frances only future is to collaborate with Germany and Italy in the formation of "new order" ill Europe.
 Is Continental
 Laval is a continental by blood and sympathy. He distrusts Britain, as an average peasant, because he says these peasants have been forced to fight off the English too many times in past centuries. Chateldon itself was the scene of bloody bat tie, pictured in vivid colors in tapes tries on the walls of the great dining hall of his castle, during the hun dred years war.
 The bones of the slain are still uncovered when the gardener digs too deeply in the vegetable gardens or on the castle slopes.
 Laval is absolutely convinced that Frances role is continental He feels that France can gain nothing by voluntarily isolating herself from Europe and trying to exist solely as an Atlantic nation It is that conviction which in- spired his desire to try to reach friendly under tand ings with Frances immediate neighbors, Ger many, Italy and Spain. He was sympathetic to King Leopold o1 Belgium when Leopold asked for ar armistice and he could not under stand British reaction when France in turn was suddenly defeated ano was obliged to stop fighting.
 Laval Sticks to Opinion
 Events have not changed Lavars opinion. He is still convinced that Germany and Italy will win the wal eventually. He is convinced that nothing can keep Hitler and Mus solini from recognizing the mar of Europe to fit their theories and he feels France must have the big gest role it is possible for her to get in the 'New Europe"
 Laval feels that it is better fol France to collaborate. He is not one who feels France must aban- don industry and become an agri- cultural country again. He feels France has a role as an industrial power due to it's empire, its very advantageous position as a mari time carrying nation for Europe, its