Evening star., 1941-08-13

MARSHAL PETAIN.
however, to rectify the errors of
capitalism. They had besides, the
purpose of entruSting responsible
men with necessary authority to
negotiate with Germany and assure
equitable distribution of raw mate
rials indispensable to our factories.
Hard to Find Impartiality.
The choice of members for these
committees was difficult. 1t was not
always possible to find impartiality
and competence united within the
same minds. These provisional
bodies created under the sway of a
pressing need have been too numer-
Gus, too centralized and too weight
ed The big corporations assumed
too much authority and often in
admissible control.
In the light of experience, 1 will
correct the work undertaken ana
will resume against selfish, blind
capitalism the same struggle the
sovereigns of France waged and won
against feudalism. I intend to have
our country freed from the most
contemplate of tutelages: That Of
money.
irresponsible trade organization
governed by commercial considera
tions have too long been directing
our food supply. I already have
taken sanctions and struck at IN
entire system in the person of a
single man: That of national dis
tribution centers which have assured
the great commercial agents of ex-
elusive and usurious control of all
questions of food supply to the
detriment of producer and consumer
We are still suffering but do not
want our sufferingS displayed n
front of the scandal of fortunes built
out of the general misery.
1t would be all the more revolving
inasmuch as this nation has in the
past year accomplished an immense
labor despite privations of all kinds
and under the most difficult condi-
/ tions.
I have in mind our peasants who,
without laborers, without fertilizer,
without sulphate, have succeeded in
obtaining results better than those
of the year before. I have in mind
the miners who have worked with
out respite night and day to obtain
coal for us. I have in mind ali
those workers who return from work
only to find fireless homes and
meagerlv set tables.
Trials Will Come to End.
1t is thanks to their efforts at
every moment that the life of the
country has been able to keep OIL
despite the defeat. 1t is with them
and through them that we vii! be
able tomorrow to build a France
free, powerful and prosperous. Let
them wait with me for better times
the trials of France will come to
an end.
AS for the lack of men, it is due
above all to the absence of prison.
ers. AS long as more than mil
lion Frenchmen, comprising the
young and vigorous elements of the
nation and the best section of Its
elite, remain outside of the countryis 5
activities, it will be hard to build a
new and lasting edifice. Their re-
turn will make it possible to fill the
great gap from which we suffer.
Their spirit, strengthened by camp
life, matured by long reflection, will
become the best cement Of the ma
tional revolution.
And vet in spite of these diff
culties the future of our country is
being built with a precision which
becomes more assured every day.
Families. communities. trades,
provinces will be pillars of the con-
stitution at which the best workers
for our reconstruction are laboring
tirelesSly. Its preamble will open
up clear perspectives for the French
future
Our most recent reforms are being
made the object of methodical re-
vision, the outline of which will ap-
pear clearer as soon as legislative
texts have been simplified and codi-
fled.
But lawmaking and building are
not enough. Governing is needed.
1t is both the necessity and the will
of the whole people.
France cannot really be governed
except from Paris. I cannot yet re-
turn there and I shall not return
there until certain facilities are Of
fered me-
Public Opinion Divided.
France cannot be governed ex-
cept with the assent of public opin-
ion-an assent more necessary than
ever in the authoritarian regime.
This public opinion is today di-
vided. France cannot be governed
except If the initiative of the chief
finds corresponding exactness and
faithfulness in the bodies trans
mitting it This exactness and
faithfulness is still lacking.
France, however, cannot wait. A
nation like ours, forged in the cru
chile of races and spirits, proud and
courageous. as ready for sacrifice
as for violence and ever bristling
when its honor is at stake, needs
certainties, room and discipline.
The governments problem thus
goes far beyond the framework of q
simple ministerial change.
1t demands above all the un-
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