The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-14

{ etntN but his power was curbed,
 m tho interior ministry Laval rec nlaead Pierre Puoheau, who has worked to give France q role in Q new order" In Europe,
 Germans Fixed Deadline
 Laval was reported Go have been restored to power at tho approach of a ,ieadllne fixed by the Germans for petain's submission to new "collaboration" under the threat Of ''disaster" for France,
 An indication that NNSi power over unoceupied France Is increas- ing was contained In Q simultaneous Viohy announcement that the Riom .'war guilt" trials, scheduled to re- convene today after an Easter rs- cess, have been postponed indeh., nltely. The Germans have objected to the trials of Frances wartime leaders because the evidence showed only the state of FrNnc0'S unpre- paredness and not tho war guilt
 The Vichy development over- ahAdowed military developments, but there were important battles underway, particularly on the Bur. mese and Russian fronts and oti AuStralias northern flank where Allied airmen continued their ola fenSlve against Japan's mVasioh bases,
 United states Concerned
 Washington, April l4, tup)---Well informed sources predicted today thAt the shAke.up in the Vehy French cabinet would lead to 0 com plete reeXamination here of rela- tons between the United States ana France,
 It has long been emphasized here thAt Franco-American relations are on Q daysto-day basis,
 These sources said thNt as soon as formal announcement haS been made of Pierre Lavul's return to power as vice premier of France, Acting Secretary of state sumner Welles probably would ask Frohen Ambassador GaSton Henfy-HNye for a full explanation, |, Welles also would be expected to demand additional guarantees that the recent accord reached my him and Henry-HNye would not be ,jeop- NrdlSed by Laval, That accord was understood in some quarters to nave been reached only after French as' suraneeS that nothing would come of Axis agitation for L0val'S return
 The accord recently reached .by Welles and Heniy-Haye included French pledges not to exceed the terms of German RrmiStiec In aid.. ing the Axis. Tn return the united states agred Co resume shipment oi needed commodities to Freneh Africa,
 Dare Not Speculate
 Diplomats here dared not speeu" late on what effect LaValS return to power might have on Freneh re. laticnS with this country Most ol therM believed it meant closer French collaboration with the Axis and represented the beginning et . serious crisis in French policy, They thought 1t especially significant that Laval should obtain control over both internal and foreign affairs.
 The greatest concern here TOT months has been the eventual dis" position of the French fleet, Dip' iomatS reflected that concern here this morning when informed Of the Vichy reports by asking first;
 "fs there any indication that the Axis wil get the French fieet3"
 The reports from Vichy came only few hours after Acting Secretary of State Sumner WelleS had de' nounced Laval and his collabora- tIonist followers for their contempt ible disregard flor the high tradi- ton Of liberty and freedom which has made France great" He accused that "handful of F'renehmen" Of ot. tempting to prostitute their eoun- try to that very regime which ii bent upon nothing else than he per- manent enslavement of France"
 WelleS' statement was made n q letter to French Ambassador daStor Henry Have who last week pro- tested the appointment Of an Amer ican consulate general ct Brazza' vile, tho free French capital oI EquitorlNl Africa,