Evening star., 1944-09-07
Monarchy Needed in France,
Famed RoyoIist Mourros Says
Intimate Of Petoin
Defends Marshal
As True Frenchmon
By NEWBOLD MOVES, Jr
Star War CorrespondAnt-

LYON. France, Sept. S De-
layed) Charles Maurras, world
famed royalist. essayist and Journal
ist. now fugitive from police in
this newly liberated city because he
was one Of Marshal Petain's inti-
mate collaborationists, talked for
more than an hour to another re-
porter and to me, pounding hard on
his thesis that Petain. together with
his immediate cirele-far from be-
ing pro-German-actually was the
cornerstone and guiding star OF
French resistance.
The police are securing the city
for the 76-yean-old. white bearded,
stone deaf little editor of Action
LFrancaise. Lyons powerful mon
archist and pro-Vichy organ. It
was not hard, however. to find him.
Awaits Verdict.
We were led to Maurras by L. F.
Auphan-an executive editor who
repeatedly has been condemned to
death by the radical resistance
group hereto a dingy apartment
where the old man is waiting among
musty books and papers for what
ever judgment the world passes on
him and the part he has played in
the French national drama.
The interview was granted on the
condition We shouldn't give away
the location Of that apartment.
Crackle of small-arms fire could
be heard everywhere, and Auphan
sweated profusely and his hand
trembled as he guided our car
through the streets to the rendez-
vous. But Maurras, receiving us in
old-fashioned formal black suit with
high stiff collar and enormous white
cuffs jutting defiantly over his
wrinkled hands, betrayed no anxiety
whatsoever.
Pathetic Ruin.
He was a pathetic ruin OF an Old
World liberty, making his last stand
at bay before new world which he
could not understand. But it was
Immediately clear that he had lost
neither his nerve nor 'his under
standing of the use Of words. He
TOOK in his stride our question as to
his plans for the future.
MY plans change every morning, "
he said, "but I never change. AS
long as have a hand to write or a
tongue to speak I shall continue
to say the things have been say
ing for the last so years, because
they are the truth"
According to Maurras, the world
must make a distinction between
Petain, who was the French state.
and Laval, who was the government.
He said that since the spring of
1912, when Laval finally took over
power backed by German guns.
Petain has occupied a position
analogous to that of constitutional
monarch.
Defends Petain's Actions.
Maurras Is prepared to defend the
actions of Petain's Vichy govern
ment prior to the time Laval ac-
tually assumed power. In support OF
his contention that the marshal's
actions were always justifiable in the
end to the national interest, he de-
clared that Vichy's relations with
the United States remained good
until Laval, shortly after taking
over. made the infamous speech In
which he said he believed in Ger
man victory and hoped for it.
Maurras says he doesn't know
whether. in the early days, Petain
believed Germany would lose, but
he Is sure Petain always has hoped
Germany would lose.
The war was inevitable, in Maur-
ras' opinion, but those responsible
for putting France into war against
Germany while she was still UNI
prepared committed Z crime against
the nation. He says that. whereas