Evening star., 1942-04-20
The luvuI-Petoin Eniqmu


In the strange drama OF Vichy,
France. experience has shown that
II In wise never to Jump 70 conclu-
Sions For instance, in the autumn
Of 1910, when Pierre Laval was
Marshal Petain's right-hand man
and legal successor. it was generally
assumed that the Vichy regime was
completely under Axis domination.
Then, suddenly, Laval was expelled
from the government, and for over
year Vichy followed tortuous policy
Of semi-neutrality. Now. with equal
suddenness, Laval returns as head Of
new political setup and nominates
a cabinet over which he Is to preside
with the title OF Chief of Govern
ment."
Once more, outside observers assert
that Petain has become mere
fgurehead and that Vichy is a plant
tool Of Germany. This may be so.
Yet neither the structure of the new
regime nor the statements OF its
leaders make this self-evident. Two
interpretations are possible: Either
the new arrangement has been made
purposely equivocal in order to
camoufiage a complete surrender to
the Axis, or Marshal Petain has sue
ceeded in reServing some measure Of
authority which he can use as sort
of veto power TO check Laval and
his policies.
Here are the facts: Marshal Petain
remains Chief of State"-the su-
preme authority under the Consti-
tutional Act of July, 1910, which is
the legal basis OF the Vichy regime.
Laval has submitted his cabinet ap-
pointees to Petain's approval, and
both he and they will function under
Petain, to whom they will all ac-
count for their undertakings and
their acts. This status was stressed
by the marshal himself in his radio
address yesterday, when he coupled
a statement that he stood behind
Laval with the assertion that Laval
was under my authority" Legally,
there is nothing to prevent Petain
from vetoing Lavars acts or dis
missing him once more.
Equally noteworthy is the fact that
Laval has not regained the full polit-
ical stature which he enjoyed before
his abrupt downfall in December,
1910. He is not restored to his posi-
ton of successor designate" or
heir apparent to the aged marshal.
That vital post is left in the hands
OF Admiral Darlan. Furthermore,
Darlan was named Commander of
all the armed forces of France" by
Petain in advance of Laval's appoint
ment as Chief OF Government, and
is responsible, not to Laval and his
cabinet, but directly to the marshal.
Thus, while Laval formulates foreign
and domestic policy, he has no direct
control over the army, navy and air
forces. 1t is well known that Laval
and Darlan distrust and dislike each
other, both for personal reasons and
because their ambitions mutually
conflict. The practical Importance
OF this Is obvious when we realize
that Laval could not actually turn
over the French fleet to Germany
on his own initiative. Darlan would
have to give the order, and would
be responsible to Petain rather than
to Laval If he should refuse.
Another point to note is that
Petain has two of his confidential
men in key cabinet posts. These
are Lucien Romier. the Minister of
State, and Joseph Barthelemy, Min
lister OF Justice. Laval combines
within himself the posts OF foreign
affairs, interior and information,
thus uniting foreign and domestic
policy and propaganda. The other
members of the cabinet are Laval
lists or nonentitieS.
Such is the curious structure which
has just been set up at Vichy. On
its face, 1t looks like a compromise,
with several internal checks and
balances. OF course. as already
stated, all this may be smoke
screen to veil Lavals hidden power
The. willy Auvergnat is capable Of
Just such a maneuver But Petain's
record proves him to be tenacious Of
his authority and capable of stub
born rear guard actions. The course
Of events alone will prove which