Evening star., 1940-12-17
Abetz Confers
With Petain on
Fate Of France
lovoI Is Reported
Called to Vichy for
Luncheon Meetinq
By the Associated Press.


VICHY, France, Dec. 17.-French
Chief of State Marshal Henri Phil
ippe Petain and German Ambassa-
dor Otto Abetz conferred for three
and half hours today in the first
of series of conferences regarded
as important for the future of
France.
Then the marshal gave the Nazi
visitor luncheon attended, the Of
fetal news agency said, by French
War Minister Gen. Charles Hunt
Ziger. Navy Minister Admiral Jean
Darlan and Secretary of State Paul
Baudouin
Ut did not mention Pierre Laval
ousted Vice Premier and Foreign
Minister who it was reported in
Bern, Switzerland, was sum-
moned to Vichy from virtual i'm
prisonment at Herr Abetz' request
and joined the chief of state and
German ambassador at lunch
con conference
Streets around the Majestic Hotel,
where Herr Abetz is staying, were
closed to all except the highest Of
f1cials. The Majestic is across the
street from the Hotel du Pare, the
government headquarters. and con-
nected with it by a closed canopy.
Council Meeting is Set.
Informed sources said Marshal
Petains council of ministers was
scheduled to meet later this after
noon
Marshal Petain's council of minis
ters was summoned for a meeting
at pm and it was presumed that
Marshal Petain had left Herr Abetz
to attend
Herr Abetz was understood to
have expressed desire to see
NJ Laval, dropped from Marshal
Petain's cabinet last week and re-
placed as French Foreign Minister
by Pierre-Etienne Flandin. The
German Ambassador was expected
to visit M. Laval at his chateau
near Vichy as soon as possible-per-
haps later today.
Censorship Enforced.
Strict censorship was placed by
the French government on details
of arrivals at Sevigny Pavilion, Mar
shall Petain's residence, shortly be-
fore l pm.
About lilo pm, French guard
OF honor took up positions and
preparations were made apparently
in anticipation of some move by the
conferees.
Herr Abetz left the residence at
1:30 pm and went directly to his
quarters at the Majestic Hotel.
Marshal Petain Leaves.
Observers said Marshal Petain left
by another door. 1t was believed he
would 60 to the Hotel du Pare where
French guards already had been
posted
Herr AbetZ was escorted from his
hotel to Marshal Petain's residence
oy French Army motorcyclists. fol-
lowed by touring car full of Ger
man officers.
The German Ambassador guard
Of uniformed German soldiers
armed with automatic rifles, which
accompanied him to his hotel last
night when he reached Vichy, did
not 60 with him today.
Silent. scattered groups of French
saw him leave the hotel and
watched as he passed through the
streets.
Informed sources said that after
his first talk with Marshal Petain,
Herr Abetz also would visit NJ
Flandin. M. Flandin was ill., how
ever. An official bulletin said he
showed signs of severe grippe and
had high temperature.
Since Marshal Petain already had
made clear that M. Laval's reSigna-
tion Saturday did not change the
governments policy of collaboration
with Germany. French said it re-
manned for Herr Abetz to indicate
the German attitude toward M.
Flandin.
Vichy throbbed with rumors about
purposes of the Abetz visit and what
Herr AbetZ would seek, but govern
ment officials said nothing. No
communique on the visit was issued
yesterday.
Laval Reported Attending
Conference in Vichy
BY the Associated Press.