Evening star., 1943-08-08
Nazi Peace With Laval
Seen as Possibility 10
Avert Defeat by Reds
BY HELEN KIRKPATRICK,


Chicago Daily News.
ALGIERS, Aug. Reports reach
Ing here from France revive the sue-
eestion that the Germans may make
peace with Pierre Laval, withdraw
from France and permit Allied
troops to enter Western Europe to
insure against a Russian victory on
their Eastern front.
For some months past indications
have been reaching London by way
of the underground to the different
Allied governments, of a new Ger
man maneuver for the conclusion OF
peace which will leave the German
armies strong and virtually intact.
The Germans are said to count on
fear OF Communism and of Russian
strength in some western countries.
Having made peace with Laval
and withdrawn their troops from
France the Nazis would announce
the war ended and count on the
Allies to protect Germany from
Russia.
Laval Negotiations Reported.
In essence the plan is merely an
other attempt, similar to the one
they made in 1s41 before the attack
on Russia, to bring about a clash
between Britain and Russia and to
allow Germany to retain a large
army. French reports say Laval has
been negotiating with the Germans
for separate peace with the guar
antee that he would be the dictator
Of France with German backing.
The persistence with which these
reports crop up leads to the belief
that they are being put out by the
Germans with the intention of Gre
ating mistrust among the Allies.
Their reception here shows that
such a conception may not be en-
tirely wrong.
Frenchmen members of the
Committee of National Liberation,
in particular-are worried by the
prospects of an Italian collapse and
OF Allied negotiations with Italy
without French participation.
American and British failure to rec
ognize the committee has been
source of great disappointment, but
the majority have understood that
Washington and London may have
felt some hesitation to do so before
the committee found solution to
the thorny problem of divided COM
mands inside the French armed
services.
Now that that problem has been
resolved without precipitating
crisis or break. they can see no
further reason for Anglo-American
hesitation However, the imminent
collapse of Italy is arousing French
suspicious that the United States
and Britain are determined to con-
troll Europe after the war, leaving
France out of the councils of the
major powers.
Waiting for Italian Settlement.
Hence, they see recognition de-
ferred until the Allies have settled
the italian question. This they feel
most strongly and point out that
there are many questions affecting
Italy in which the French must
have say.
Tunisia, with its large Italian
population, is one.
The French Riviera and Italian
occupation of that shore is another.
Most important question, however,
is that of French participation in
the forthcoming invasion of the
continent. And so long as the
French committee is not recognized,
the French cannot take part in
Joint general staff deliberations.
Those who take seriously these
reports Of German plans for
separate peace with Laval and Ger
man withdrawal inside the German
fortress are deeply perturbed by
the fact that the United States and
Britain continue to keep the French
at arms distance. Those who re-
gard the reports as German propa-
ganda fear that they can create
suspicious among the Allies and pre-
cipitate another "Russo-Polish" dis
pute.
fropvrirht 1o43 Chjcaeo Daily News, Inc)