Evening star., 1942-09-22

people. ssa al& -
SUNNI arized, David Lawrence.
these impressions are reported:
l. There is prevalent belief
among thoughtful and well-informed
Germans that Germany cannot pos
sibly win the war.
Q. The belief prevails that the
war will end in a stalemate.
3. Confidence in Hitler as a
superman began to wane when he
began making excuses in his public
speeches for the events leading up
to the attack on Russia. His STRAIT
egy in attacking Russia while leav-
Ing his other flank open to attack
from Britain by air has been con-
tinuously questioned.
4. Entry of the United States into
the war has lowered German conf
dence in ultimate victory and is
the prime reason for the belief
that stalemate will end the war.
Laval Pictured as Mediator.
s. Inside France, the explanation
offered by Lavals closest friends
for his attitude of collaboration with
Germany is that he believes he will
be the great mediator of this war
and will bring about the peace,
after which his pro-German acts
presumably would be forgotten by
his own countrymen.
6. There still prevails both in
France and Germany among some
of the better informed persons
theory that in America an appease-
ment group will arise to help ac-
cept stalemate.
The informant who furnished this
background data, covering a report
made after many months of contact
through Switzerland with passing
travellers, was able constantly to
refute the notion that there was
any possibility of appeasement and
pointed out also that evidently
Laval is wholly unaware of how
bitter is the opposition to him
throughout the world. An oppor-
tunity was presented to tell these
same friends that America, now
reused to an intense feeling over
war issues, would not be satisfied
with anything less than uncondi-
tional surrender by the Axis.
The same source of information
brought word that many people in
Southern Europe, particularly in
Switzerland, who have been in con-
tact with important persons in the
Balkans were at loss to under
stand why until only recently there
was no air bombardment of such
key localities as Rumanian oil fields
and railroad centers. For months
1t has been matter of puzzlement
that these bases of supply escaped
bombardment.
Sympathy for United Nations.
One of the most interesting re-
actions coming from Germany is
revealed in the questions constantly
asked concerning the British and
American readiness to fight on the
side of communistic Russia. This
question was answered on every oc-
casion by the statement that if the
Germans and italians would explain
their alliance with Japan, they coulo
understand American and British
aid to Russia.
The attitude of people inside
France, in both occupied and un.
occupied territory. Is one of strong
sympathy with the cause of the
United Nations. Lately there ha.
been tendency to criticize Marsha
Petain, who. it is felt. made major
blunder when he consented to le
Laval into his government. 1t il
= feared now by the French that Lava
will build up his own organization
and police force inside France 81
that Petain's position would be a
insignificant as was Hindenburg'
after Hitler had built up his power
There is a steadily declining faitl
in Petain as savior. 1t is argue,
that he lost his chance to saw
France by failing to take a firm
stand against Laval.
One aspect of the future is oftel
discussed in Switzerland. 1t is tn
nature of the reprisals that will b
taken in almost every country no,
dominated by Germany, not onl
against Nazis who happen to b
there, but against the Quislings VIII
played the German game. Th
wrath that may flare up when tn
war ends is expected to bring reig
of terror and revenge the like {
which the world has never befor
witnessed.