Evening star., 1941-02-10
DarIan Takes Up Task
Of Collaboration
With Germany
Navy Minister Promoted
To Chief of Council
Of Vichy Government

81 the Associated Pres
VtCHY, France. Feb. 10.-Admiral
Jean Darlan. promoted to No. 2 man
in Chief of State Philippe Petain's
government, was expected today to
take up--vith German approval
former Vice Premier Pierre Lavdls
work toward collaboration with the
Reich.
Admiral Darlan, only cabinet min
tzter carried over from before the
fall of France. emerged from furry
Of Developments here yesterday as
chief of council (ViCe PREMIER ana
foreign minister, in addition to his
former post of minister of the navy.
He succeeded Pierre Eteinne Flan-
din. who took NJ. Lavals place as
foreign minister when NJ. Laval. once
heir apparent to the chief of state,
had misunderstanding with Mar
shall Petain after undertaking nego-
tiatiOns toward FrenCh-German col
laboration.
Declares Mission Tmpeded.
Political circles said Admiral
D7rlan also might take over the
Ministries of Interior and Infor-
nation. In further cabinet changes
expected during the week, they
said. other civilian ministers may
he replaced by high civil service
officials
Reports from Paris said M. Laval's
supporters were surprised by the
Weekend shake-up, but that all he
could do was wait and see"
NJ. Iaval's friends, these reports
said. accused United States Am
bassador Admiral William D. Leahy
Of having told Marshal Petain that
NJ. Lavals return would be con-
sidered an unfriendly act. but
American Embassy officials promptly
called this completely false.
NJ. Flandin's resignation was at
tributod officially to a desire to ease
"Petain's heavy task ard because
his mission of continuing Collabora-
tion was impeded by the opposition
Of German authorities and Paris
newspapers which supported NJ. La
val"
NJ. Laval last Saturday turned
clown a compromise offer for his
return 10 the government as minis
tor of staff and member Of a Cahi-
ret triumvirate with broad powers.
Political circles here predicted
that, although some other cabinet
= ,rI, bo NJ
laval would not become a cabinet
member in the near future They
SAID two or three more ministers
might step Out-but there would be
no wholesale designations.
These sources added that the pol
iCv of FTench-German collaboration
could be expected to take a squirt
under Admiral Darlan. vino. it was
inferred. had discussed such A pro-
cram with German authorities in
Paris on his several recent visits
there As Marshal Petair's Pmlssary
IN negotiations with NJ. Laval
They expressed the belief the
Germans had withdrawn their insist
enCe that NJ Laval return to the
government to carry on the collab-
Grafton talks and had agreed 10 deal
with the veteran Admiral of
France
No Blame Put on FIandin.
Darlan. like Gen Maxine WevGand
IN North Africa. is the commander Gi
potent French military force,
which some observers have said
constitutes Marshal PetainS ace in
the hole to guard France from too
severe terms from her conquerors.
Cen. Weygand commands Frances
North African Army, and Admiral
Darlan has been commander-in-
chief Of the French Fleet since 1929,
Prime Minister Churchill, in
his speech broadcast from Lon
don yesterday. mentioned British
naval shelling of Genoa as an at
tack on a port from which per
haps Nazi expedition might
soon have sailed to attack Gen.
Wevgand IN Algeria or Tunis.'
Flandlns letter of resignation
from the Office he had held since
December IA. as we'll as Marshal
Petan's letter of acceptance, en-
rhasi7ed that NJ. Flandin had had
no part in the internal political
events GavalS removal from the
cahinet which led TO his appoint
ment. and accepted no blame for
lack Of progress in the cOllabOra-
ton negotiations.
Marshal Petan thanked him
warmly for noble disintereStednesS
and devotion and loyalty in diff
ficult post"
New Reality Given Policy.
An official commentary on the
cabinet change said Admiral Dar-
lan's converse tions in Paris gave
the policy Of collaboration new
reality" and declared the sltua-
ton 50 created will bring decisions
III the near future"
Political observers said the chief
question now is: What is the new
collaboration"
"RaSsemblement National" a
French propaganda committee Of
81 men formed by the Vichy gov
eminent January % to rally public
support behind the Vichy regime,
met today in what one of its Off
Gals described as a most important
moeting."
One of Admiral Darlans tasks in
his recent visits to Paris was be-
llavpd in some Vichy quarters to
have been negotiation with "Ras-
samblement Populaire," rival
committee formed in German-occu-
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