The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-03
FRANCE GIVEN
 NEW SURPRISE
Paul BaudOnin, Minister of Propaganda Quits Cabi-
 net of Petain
BY RALPH HEINzEN United Press stan Correspondent

(Unlted Press Stan COrreGpOndent)
 victy, France, Jan. 3 - (UP)- Marshal Philippe Petain today formed a directorate of three men as an inner executive cabinet and announced the resignation of Paul Baudo1ir, minister for youth and propaganda.
 Members of the directorate are Admiral Francois Darlan, navy min- ister; Pierre Flandin, foreign min ister and General Charles Hunt ginger, war, minister, with Darlan as senior member and thus, in eff feet, second in command to Petain.
 Appointment of the directorate was expected but the resignation of Baudouin was complete surprise.
 A terse communique said:
 M. Baudouin, minister of state at the presidency of the council, has asked Marshal Petain to accept his resignation. Marshal Petain con- sented to that desire"
 An explanatory statement was ex- pected later.
 Baudouin had been Petain's first foreign minister. Pierre Laval, vice. premier, succeeded him. Later Laval was dismissed from the cabinet. German-French negotiations on collaboration have been suspended since Laval's dismissal in midi cember.
 Not Like Laval As in the case of Laval, it was said that Baudouin's resignation had nothing to do with French German relations. It was said also, of Baudouin, that his resignation was not result of German pressure but was part of a general reor- ganization of the cabinet and espe- cially the cabinets method of func- tioning.
 Darlan will be the man next in authority to Petain, as senior mem Der of the directorate, but he will not get the title which Laval had for time of vice premier. The new triumvirate will function at the Lead of and within the cab inet, dividing with Petain respon- sibility for supervision and direction of the cabinet at large. It was understood that Darlan would direct all home affairs, in- cluding interior and justice (and the police). Huntzinger would direct all national defense matters and Elan din not only foreign affairs but do- mestic economic matters including finance, labor, national production, provisioning and agriculture. It was believed that Darlan might retain control of the navy, and that Baudouin might be named to some minor post in the cabinet at large. Second Strongest Man Within the last few weeks Darlan had stood out as the second strong est man in France, second only to Petain.
 He had become Petain's chief ne- gotiator with the Germans and had twice gone to Paris in his behalf.
 At 59, he is known as salt wa ter, not mahogany desk sailor. At 48 he was the youngest admiral in European navies. At B he com- manded the French Atlantic feet He, Flandin, and Huntzinger had constituted informally sort of tri- umvirate in place of the vice prime ministry. It was expected that the triumvirate officially recognized would relieve Petain of much re- Sponsibility which Laval's dismissal threw on him, but it was empha- sized here that he would retain full authority.
 Like Petain, Darlan is an author itarian with no political leanings and a horror of the turbulent par liamentary system which had over- thrown cabinet after cabinet be- fore Frances collapse. He is repre- sented as not a Fascist but a stern disciplinarian and an ardent advo- Cate based on non-political collabo- rators. He has no past political ties to cause the opposition which Laval encountered.