The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-01
MEETS
 MARSHAL COERING
Continued from Page D

NNOktAAAuGu HUH &&3N P
 
 was pointed out that Petain, always stickler for correct procedure, was being subjected to humiliation under protocol if he, the head of State, made his journey to confer not with Hitler, to head of c state, but with Goering, Hitler's subordinate. We'll informed sources believed, therefore, that Hitler probably went to the rendezvous with his No. man as Petain went to 1t with his No. 2.
 That the stage was set for an i'm. portant development in what the Germans and the Vichy-French call "colaboration" had been made evi- dent by e series of developments. It was pointed out by well-informed persons that Hitler, or even 0oering, would scarcely meet with Petain merely to negotiate with Q conquer ed foe. These negotiations have been completed by the professional dipio- mats, 1t was suggested, and todayS meeting was arranged for Petain to sign on the dotted line.
 Conquered France could be most useful to Germany in two ways - her fleet, and her North African territories. The fleet, under German control, is formidable enough to challenge British supremacy in the Mediterranean and aid Germany in the battle of the Atlantic. French North Africa has many excellent na- val and air bases from which Ger man submarines and warplanes could raid British shipping in the South Atlantic and in the Mediter. ranean. It adjoins Italian Libya where an Axis army Is being reduced by 6 British offensive.
 In return for concessions in these directions, the Germans could otter to free some if not all of their l.. 500,000 French war prisoners, with draw from part of occupied France, particularly Paris, the capital, or ease the huge maintenance" boSt being charged France for the oc- cupation army.
 The approach of France to closer collaboration" with Germany was first signaled when General Maxine Weygand, Petains pro-consul in North Africa, was summoned to Vichy and dismissed. Weygand was the most resolute anti-collaboratiop- Ist among the men close to Petain As long as he was in Africa, well. informed sources felt that Germany would never get control of that stra- tegic land. The United States state department banked on that theory and persuaded the British to let limited supplies for Weygand pass through their blockade.
 Then, with Weygand out of the way, the German controlled Paris press began a violent anti-American and pro- collaborationist chorus.
 The newest chant from that chorus was in Sunday editorial Of Le Temps. "One feels rather than knows that certain events are ready to happen" 1t said. Tt Is sort of communicative intuition preparing the minds of Frenchmen to believe that the daily monotony may be shortly broken"
 The official German news agency announced that teh Paris periodical, "Our Fight, had issued 8 special edition in which German Ambassa- dor Otto Abetz and the French "am- bassador" to Paris, Fernand De Bri- non wrote prefaces for Q German French understanding"
 Abetz welcomed "a steady growing number of Frenchmen who recognize the chances for nations which join the new order" De Brinon s aid Frances future stands with the new Europe.
 OficiaI Announcement
 Vichy. Dec. = (U.P.) = Chief of State Marshal Henri Philippe Pe- tain and Vice Premier Admiral Jean Francois Darlan met Reichsmarshal Herman Wilhelm Goering in occu- pied France today, an ofiicial an- nouncement said.
 The announcement said Petain and Darlan left Vichy by special train at 10 D. m. yesterday and met the personality, understood here to be Reichsmarshal Wilhelm Goering, at ii a. m. today. The announce ment said Petain and Darlan would return here tonight or tomorrow.
 The special train stopped for the night near La Ferte, Q few miles south of Mouths and thus inside Free France. It crossed into occu- pied France this morning where Pe- tain and Darian were formally sa- luted by German military forces. The meeting place was not named. 1t was believed that after the morn- ing conference. the conferees lunch- ed together and held another con- an~..-s--. Aa.nm 4. HAn1..aa.ssaa