Evening star., 1942-04-20

, kozi Attempt to Win
:hmon, Confuse U. 5. Policy
proved He was Minister of
Public Works, and his fortune
grew an ne let out contracts. He
vas Minister OF Justice. and cases
involving wealthy Frenchmen
vere n1ysteriously qusshed. He
was Prime Minister and pursued
his Law practice. receiving clients
and opponents-in the pre-
rier's once.
Travelling with q French jour
nalst from Paris 10 Bordeaux
while France was falling, he
seemed in excellent spirits.
Now, at first sight, one would
think appointment OF Laval
would only increase French re-
sentment-and, at first sight,
that is what has happened.
But keeping the Nazi game in
mind. let us think and predict
what can happen.
Remember that the Nazis need
Laval to handle the French
people.
What will they give Laval TO
offer the French people7
False Impression Given.
The division Of France is dis
treSsing to all Frenchmen. Hav-
ing divided France, the Nazis
will now In all probability allow
Laval to bring about It's re-
union. They will stage spurious
conflicts OF policy" in which
Laval will appear TO be the win
ner. Laval will slyly wink. giving
the impression that 1t takes a
smart Frenchman to outwit the
Germans.
And the game is, that for those
things, and perhaps some others,
the French will psy for an out
right Nazi and completely anti
Allied organization OF France.
Now 1t would be foolhardy to
say that this policy won't work.
II we allow Laval TO have q series
of successes, it is quite possible
that we will be played out Of the
game.
French feet, instead of on the
whole political constellation, we
stand a good chance OF being
deceived ourselves. The appoint
nient Of Darlan as commander of
all French forces is not a prep
aration for delivery Of the feet
to the Germans.
For Laval will not deliver the
feet to the Germans. That would
be too transparent and unsubtle.
Laval's game Is to do nothing, on
the surface, for the Germans, but
everything for nationalist France.
He will therefore make q STEP
hy-step policy. engaging the fleet,
nrst, in convoys-for instance to
get food TO France. 1t will GER
tainly not be unpopular In France
TO insist on conveying food trans
ports. Through representatives In
America, he will make . great
bid for our sympathy and sup
port.
Has international Role, Too.
For internationally also, Laval's
Job for the Nazis Is to prove that
he is acting exclusively in the
interests OF France. His interna-
tional role also is to launch a
peace offensive, especially in the.
United States, and on behalf of
the suffering people of France,
with the object Of dividing public
opinion in the United States and
thus weakening our effort.
Hitler knows that French prop
aganda over here is a thousand
times more effective than Ger
man. Not only has experience
proved that Hitler can only win
France through a Frenchman: 1t
also indicates that Hitler can
only confuse America by a
Frenchman.
Laval is picked for both jobs.
Now, what cards does Laval
have to play over here?
First, he has at least one
American journalist who is al
most personal press agent. This
correspondent, a close personal
friend, was granted the Legion
of Honor by Laval when the lat
ter was premier. Time and again
the Journalist has launched trial
balloons for his friend, several
in the last few days.
He has his son-in- law, Rene
de Chambrun, a descendant of
Lafayette, an extremely charm
ing fellow, very popular In con-
servative American circles, and
in constant contact with anti
Roosevelt and America First
circles.
He will try TO work for a me
gotiated that is to say for a
Hitler-peace, and an American
policy that is anti-Russian, and,
OF course, anti-Japanese.
1t is not Hitler's game now to