Evening star., 1941-02-09

VICHY, France. Feb. "A weeks
negotiations with Pierre Laval ended
tonight with a government an
nOuncement of his refusal to accept
a place in Marshal Henri Philippe
Petain'S cabinet as minister of state
and member of a projected three
man committee which would exer-
else broad powers under the
marshal
The disclosure that M. Laval had
declined such a post came after
Admiral Jean Darlan. returning
from a second trip to Paris to see
the former premier. conferred with
Marshal Petain and then attended
a restricted cabinet meeting" with
Marshal Petain, Defense Minister
Gen. Charles Huntziger and Foreign
Miniter Pierre -Etienne Flandin.
Reports that M Flandin had re-
signed were denied by a member Of
his department.
Informed persons said they con-
sidered there was little chance that
M. Laval would seek to set I'D his
own government in Paris, as has
been suggested in some quarters.
No Further Talks Mentioned.
They pointed out that the official
Interpretation here was that M.
Laval himself had retreated from
his original position, but that even
tually-especially if the government
should move to Paris-he would
gradually move back into the min
isterial orbit.
Nothing was said by the Govern
ment of any further discussions.
This was the text of the commu-
nique:
"Petain, the chief Of state. fol-
lowing the Montoire policy. proposed
to formeD Premier Laval that he
enter the government as minister of
state and member of committee of
direction. Premier Laval declined
the marshal's offer"
/ 1t was at Montoire that Marshal
Petain met Adolf Hitler last Octo-
Der "a and signified his agreement
/ TO a policy of French-German COL
Liberation. The marshal had stead
fastly maintained that there has
| been no change in Frances desire
| to continue that policy.
The Laval negotiations, with Ad-
mlral Darlan as representative Of
Marshal Petain and the Vichy gov
ernment. began February 2. The
Paris press during the talks, launch
/ ed a campaign against Vichy.
popular national committee" back
ing NJ Laval and indorsing complete
/ collaboration with Germany was
formed and German sources took the
stand that M. Laval should be re-
! turned to the government.
Cabinet Reorganization Seen.
Informed persons contended that
Marshal Petain shortly would direct
a reorganization of the cabinet in
which Admiral Darlan and Gen.
( Huntziger would remain, and that a
I government with new civilian men,
| berS would be formed
After the announcement of M. La
walls refusal of place in the present
! government some of his friends said
he had withdrawn from his earlier
position. in which he had demanded
the power to form another govern
ment They added he considered it
impossible to return to Vichy with
out causing a reaction in the coun-
| try.
Some observers read the an
nouncement as a victory for
Marshal Petain. who offered some
concessions but would go no further.
Should the French government
eventually return to Paris, however.
one informant said, M. Laval and
Admiral Darlan probably might
head that government jointly.
During the day the French press
in the unoccupied zone was directed
by the government mot to enCer
into polemics" with the Paris press.
Only Friday night it was reported
that M, Laval's maximum demand
upon Marshal Petain was for a
post equivalent to the premiership,
and that his minimum demand was
for the establishment of two vice
presidents of council-himself and
Admiral Darlan.
Friday, too, the government
/ caused wide publication in the un-
occupied zone of a pledge by Gen.
Maxine Weygand, commander of
the French troops in Africa, that
Germany would not be given any
Tunisian base from which to fight
the British
M Laval was ousted from the
Petain government on December IS
and put under arrest.