The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-01
Ledhy Letter Is Submitted
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 case, which has strayed," and sug- |gested that the testimony be brought around to charges that Petain had intelligence with the enemy.
 Prosecutor Andre Mornet said the testimony about the decline and fall of France was only prelimin- ary to the trial itself, in which he proposed to prove with documents that Petain's alleged treason began after July, 1940.
 Payen Complains
 Defense Chief Fernand Payen concurred in the desire for speed up of the trial, complaining that the court kept calling more prosecu- ton witnesses.
 Mornet and Payen also agreed that neither wanted to call Pierre Laval, on his way back to France after his surrender to the U- s. Army yesterday, to testify, since his preliminary examination would en- tain further delay.
 The defense next called Jean Ducheyla, farmer counsellor of the French Embassy in Madrid and now Minister to Luxembourg.
 He said that in October, 1889, when Petain was ambassador to Ma drid, the Marshal told him The was absolutely against the use some peo- pie were making of him with the idea of rutting him in power. He once said he was 83 years old and not a candidate for anything" Gen. Maxine Weygand, who yes- terday told his story of Frances downfall, was recalled to the stand. But before he could testify, Payen announced he was planning to read a letter from Leahy.
 One juror interrupted sarcas- tically: twill it be possible for the court kindly to let me read a let ter from a woman who was decapl- tated for her political opinions?"
 Payen asked, Does M. Mornet wish to read the Leahy letter to the court?" Mornet shrugged. Then I'll read it." Payen said. The same jur- or rose and demanded the right to read a letter from a political de- portee, and another juror shouted protest against allowing Weygand to testify unless former Premier Paul Reynadd could be heard at the same time. / Weygand then entered the fray.
 I'M. Reynaud is astonished that I replied to his accusations" he said, referring to their contradict ing testimony earlier. T must reply. I have a free conscience. Reynaud with grerat skill passed on his &C., cusations against me to the Amer ican, British and French press be- fore the trial began. think the court should reproach Reynaud for his violent insults"
 He turned to Reynaud and said It was an insult to accuse people or lacking patriotism. Reynaud went white and shouted:
 T didn't insult you, and I'll prove it. Nobody in the world confuses France with Vichy. Nobody confuses the real France with the mobiliza- ton of French workers for Ger many.
 well, have you finished?" Wey- gand asked scornfully.
 "No, not all all," Reynaud said.
 Reynaud said that after returning from Germany he learned that Wey- gand had said at meeting before the war that the French govern ment ministers didn't give damn about anything, and ought to be shot,"
 T never said any such thing, Weygand shouted in a towering rage.
 As soon as he entered the court room, Payen was surrounded by per- sons asking questions about the role in the trial of Laval, who flew from Spain to Austria yesterday and surrendered to the U. s. Army.
 The final decision on the calling of Laval rests with the government, but early indications were that 1t would abide by the agreement of counsel for both sides.
 Lawyers said the trial would be delayed at least a week for the preliminary examination of Laval if he were to testify. They op- posed this on the ground that the trial was likely to drag on for sev- eral weeks at best.
 Judge Pierre Mongibeaux of the high court of justice opened to- days session with statement urg- ing counsel to cut off speeches about responsibility for the Franco-Ger- man armistice and "get on with the real trial"
 Mongibeaux demanded that the court now hear testimony on charges of intelligence with the en- emy and Petain's activity at Sig maringen. seat in Germany of the Vichy shadow government" after it fled France ahead of the Allied Armies.
 Case Strays
 "We should try to tighten up the case, which has strayed in the last two days" Judge Mongibeaux said. He observed that since the trial be- gan the court had listened to "the kind of search for responsibility when military men threw the blame on civilians and vice versa"
 The matter of Frances armistice with Germany has been dealt with sufficiently. he said, and the court now wants to know what Petain did with his power after July 10. 1940, when the Vichy regime took over.
 After the judge finished, Mornet rose and said:
 T think it is time the trial got