Evening star., 1942-09-28

diffculties IN the negotiations with
Germany for 10000 French work
ers, which private sources said had
been demanded within three weeks.
Mindful of the sentiment of the
French, Laval declared this would
involve strong compulsion which he
dared not exert, information from
Paris said.
According to these advices. Laval
Is determined to pursue collabora-
tion in his own way. If he chooses
TO stand against full conscription
of workers. there is a possibility of
his being pushed out of the govern
ment, it was reported. In such a
case ne could adopt the role of hav-
ing stood for the rights of French
men. There was one rumor that he
had even threatened to 60 to North
Africa.
Bedaux Reported Held.
It was reported without confirma-
tion that Charles f. Bedaux, friend
OF the Duke and Duchess of Wind
sor, whose wife is the former Miss
Fern Lombard of New York and
Tours, France, was among those
taken into custody by the Germans.
Bedaux recently had been in
Cannes, in the unoccupied zone. but
1t was stated there was reason to
believe he might have gone to Paris
recently.
The roundup was only one Of
number of problems involving
Americans in France.
The United States Embassy in
vichy has asked Laval's government
to explain why citizens of the
United States had been barred from
air travel in Unoccupied France
along with other Allied nationals, it
was reported.
1t was understood the Embassy
also wanted to know why American
motion picture films have been
stopped In transit at the Spanish
border for the last eight days and
why American film distributors in
the unoccupied zone have been no.
tified to close their Offices October /.
Laval and Nazis Confer.
Announcement Of the restrictions
on air travel, which threatened to
increase friction already existing
between Washington and Vichy, was
made by the French airlines as
Laval conferred with German Off
cials in Paris after ousting the ar
Gent collaborationist, Jacques Be
moist -Mechin, AS secretary of state
tn his Foreign Ministry.
The custer of Benoist-M -Mechin fol-
lowed week of rumors of plots
against the Laval regime and was
accompanied by statement from
Laval In which he declared:
"I shall under no circumstances
allow the authority of the govern
ment to be attacked. This is more
necessary today than ever. The
government stands firm and there
Is no reason why it should not do
20 in the future. I am firmly re-
solved to carry out to the end my
mission"
Laval did not elaborate further
on the reasons for M. BenoiSt-
Mechins dismissal.
Plan Believed Upset.
Some observers, however, believed
his action had upset plan to have
NJ. Benoist-Mechin take over fron,
Laval at the head of a group OF
young collaborationists' pressing
for pro-German program at pace
which Laval--still mindful OF Amer
can prestige and power-thought toe
rapid,
These quarters, which could not be
named, recalled that only the day
before the custer the Frankfurte,
1eitmg had published length,
article reviewing M. Benoist-Mech.
ms career and praising his work.
Whatever the facts, it was as.
serted, it appeared certain tha
Laval's weekend visit to Paris in.
volved discussion of the ouster
and an explanation of his plans foi
sending more skilled workers to Ger
many-the big card in his dealing
with the Nazis.