The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-22
BERLIN RAIDS FAIL TO ALARM GERMANS
Lengthy Conferences Were Still
Continuing Early This Morning
ny RALPH HElNZEN
UNITED Press STAN Correspondent

Bordeaux, France, June 22-(UP)-French
leaders, facing q decision on which hinged their
countrys future and the lives of countless Thousands
of ito people, met in formal council of ministers at
$3.50 q. m. today $3.50 q. m. EDT) after only 4N
hour adjournment, to continue study of the German
armstice terms.
Eighty-four-year.old Marshal Philippe Petain,
the premier and his cabinet colleagues had met IN
formal council under President Albert Lebrun at
q. m. They studied the German terms until q. na,
with Gen. Maxine Weygand, the generaissimo OF the
armies, attending war minister
Many ministers had had no sleep when they met
again at $3.50 to their discussion, after OK.
pers had studied the specific demands in the long and
detailed German communication.
HOLD LENGTHY SESSIONS
An official communique said: !,
'"The council of ministers met at q. m. presided
over by M Lebrun to examine the German text OF the
armstice convention The frat sitting lasted until
A. M Ministers resumed their deliberations at $3.50
a. M, snce they were sitting with interruptions
caused by the necessity of telephoning their plenipo-
tentares."
(The discrepancy in the times for the end Of the
frat meeting, q. m. in the communque and .:
M az Heinzen put it, might be explained by informal
conferences Of members lasting after the formal ad
journment.)
TWAS ntmated that the government would con-
tinue its meetings throughout the day. so the prospect
was that there could be no early decision.
yond the indication that they were complicated and
long.
DELAY COSTS FRENCH LIVES
Each hour Of delay meant the lives Of more
Frenchmen, fighting from the channel coast to the
eastern frontier retreating before the German
drive.
But the government had to make decision that
affected every living being in the country-the choice
of humiliatins, crushing peace, or merciless war
If humiliation.
A French informant described the German terms
az Extremely severe. French commentators took
the view that the German statement OF terms showed
that the Germans had been preparing for 20 years tor
q war of revenge.
Would Have Demanded Same In rs
A reliable authority said that preliminary reading
OF the German terms said that they seemed exac Wnat
Germany would have demanded had she won the ast war
But he said there was vital dsncon oetw wee ns
still fighting the stronger of the Allies Britan) and that
the question Of ultimate victory remained IN the balance
The feeling OF people In Bordeaux one Of resigna-
ton but the deep and fevent hope still persisted that the
Denocracles might eventually crush the dictators
Details OF the German demands were not yet available
40 lines censored)
Cabinet Has Memorable Session
1t was memorable meeting Of the cabinet his morn
ing In this ancient wine city s dusty from the crumb
ling ruins OF houses blasted by German bombs the hgh
seepe OF the church 1.-TWO words censored looks down on
the stained windows blown out Its carvings
barched and snagged. Beneath 1t Is house. crushed IN
on its cellar shelter, where many had met death,
The German armies although slowed down for, for the
moment (sx words censored) at Cearmont Ferrano
Zone word censored) at the Swiss border.
and the French press seem TO realize that u
1.-THE ARMY has played heroic role and had fought TO
point where sacrifice longer helps This mornings news
papers announce merely that the armistice terms have
been transmitted TO the government, which Will decide the
issue In cabinet meetings
Petain Government Supported
During the armistice crisis evidence piles up that
Frenchen OF all classes and all political views are rayg
around Petan and the government determined unknown
number Of words missing, apparently censored) news BE-
comes known.
Minister of Interior Charles Pomaret conferred yeste
day with President Of the Senate j Jeanneney ana later
with President of the Chamber Edouard Herriot. mime
words censored).
President Learum also received senator's and deputies
headed by Pierre Laval.
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