THE

"I duire Germany'" victory," _id Pierre Laval, tM C1aaef of the Frencla flo ..,.,..,.,,1'11, a few My' ago, alrnolrt uocay two year, after Fronce "igmd the M ",UIiCe willa G8n",Jn.y in the forut of OompUfI1.e. In thue tlllO year" France Ittu noe Aeld tM limelight of 'corld politiu. The (,ltention of tAe world ,me diret:l«l mainly at the statu Mill int'Olved in the 6lruwle or tAOIre about to eraler it. Only II0W fwd agaill did "he appear on the front .r:ge, whcn Onm and Dal.'ar, Syria 'md Madaga«a1' Illere attacked, w1aerl bam"" fel on Parill, or whel~ Lawl entered Vichy. During the biUc1' year" Jolloteing a military caIa4lrophe, Fr(/nce wa, occupied in building 60mtlAing MW Jrom the wrec1«Ige and, above all, in trying to Jind hu bfariftp. The rood from the trod~ oj 1789 to co-openUion in a totaWana.. Burope, tIwl cJaotu '*-n old ide.u wlaidt, tAough ditlCndiJm, ,lJfjre 6liU dear to them, and the ncognition oJ new faeu, were "" etUY Jor tIwl people aJ Fro,,". Willa their former enemic8 there i, an an"iMice, noe yet peace. Their f- frictl~ are d~p­ ping bot""" OIl II,wI and, piece by pi_, are robbing tJle only tAillfl tAey managed to «It'tl uMCOthed from the roUapl&-lMtr coIcmial empire. France', path during thue two year" .. ducrih«l here with great ouluItJrd rutra'i'IIt, u:h·ich fllaku tM" artick appear ol1OO8t like a dooumellt, (md at the 8Q1IIe time leilA deep imler emotioll. It '" written by a young aulhor lilling in EMf Ana, who air a French patriot render" in it all account of thue two year". Importalal documetll" relalm to the artic~.· to which Wll particularly call the attention of OUT reader", will be foulld in the appendtz.-K.M.

PRELUDE tion, skillfully maintained and exploited, F one wishes to understand the essen­ frequently of foreign origin but all too tials of the French foreign as well as often amply justified by the selfishness I domestic policy of the last two years, and narrow-mindedness of the leading it is worth while bearing in mind some of class. the previous tendencies of French public France was tom into many camps. opinion. This was characterized by three There were those who supported "war at main trends: fl,st, an Anglophile intel­ any price" or "the war to end war"; lectual orientation, a consequence of the those whom propaganda managed to Franco-British alliance of 1914-18, per­ convince of an inevitable war and who msting in spite of a certain anti-English preferred to have it at once, all the more feeling on t.he part of those who were so since they hoped-thanks to the well acquainted with their own and Maginot Line and the blockade-that it England's history; secondly, a very strong would be without real fighting. There anti-German sentiment among many war were those who accepted Munich, not as vetel'lU18, to whom the victory of 1918 did a disastrous "capitulation," but as a not bring the realization of the promises step towards new agreements, towards a which it was held to contain and who readjustment of international relations, wa.tched with anguish the specter of a either out of sympathy for the new forms new conftict arise; thirdly, social agita- of government of the neighboring coun- 10 THE XXLh CENTURY tries or, above all, out of a reflex of the the Franco-German frontier. But on instinct of preservation, because they May 10, 1940, the German attack began. vaguely seD8ed the weakness of French The German armies moved with un­ preparedness and the danger of Anglo­ expected speed, and within a few days Saxon selfishness. Finally there were the position of the Allies became critical. thoee of no fixed opinion-a dangerous New leaders were needed. On May 16, majority which let itself be tossed about Marshal Petain, Frenoh Ambassador in and maneuvered from one direction to Spain, was summoned to the Government another, and which believed in tum in by Paul Reynaud. On the 18th he was the SUcce88 of all policies, from Briand's in Paris. On May 21, General Weygand, to poincare's, from Pierre Laval's to recalled from Syria, took over the High Leon Blum's, and which rejected them Command of the Allied forces. He im­ in tum with the same haste, usually mediately realized the hopelessness of the without awaiting the results. In these situation. But just as in 1938-39 there masses, most of them of the working had been a party of "war at any price," class, one tendency was discernible: "We so in May and June 1940 there was a have tried everything except Communism. party of "war to the bitter end." It Why not this?" was against this party that the Marshal Beside these currents others were flow­ had to support General Weygand's point ing which were expressed by the follow­ of view regarding the request for an ing violent feelings: armistice. Urged as inevitable by Wey­ Against Laval who made himself un­ gand since May 25, it was demanded in popular by his policy of deflation and by writing on June 6 but constantly refused the signing of the !talo-French agree­ by Paul Reynaud. ments; It would be useless to look for anything Against the Jews, who, through the in the request for an armistice but a coming into power of their coreligionist military necessity. No one will deny Leon Blum, were enabled rapidly to the absolute sincerity, frankness, and invade the brain of the State-Ministeries, loyalty of the Marshal, especially as they Chief Administrations, etc., and against are confirmed over and over again by the Freemasons, who were compromised events. We ~U his opinion: by the Stavisky Scandal; "What must be emphasized first is Finally, against the regime itself, of the profound illusion which France, to­ which the most reasonable among com­ gether with her allies, had concerning petent French politicians had for many their true military strength and the years urged that reform was indispensable. efficienoy of economic weapons at their Arising from these contradiotory cur­ disposal," said Marshal Petain on June rents of thought France successively saw 25, 1940, the day after the armistice; and the bloody demonstrations of February several months later, on October 11, he 6, 1934; the attempted reform and fall added: of the Doumergue GoveJ;llDlent in the "On a day in September 1939, without same year; the campaigns for and against even having dared to consult the Cham­ the policy of sanctions against Italy bers, war was declared, a war praotioaUy during the Abyssinian war; the elections l08t in advance. We knew neither how of 1936 with the slogan, "Bread, Peace, to avoid it nor how to prepare for it." Liberty," and their result-the Popular Against the coalition of "to the bitter Front; the strikes and the military oc­ end-ists," Marshal Petain and General oupation of factories; the Munich agree­ Weygand succeeded, thanks to their ments; the war of 1939; and the catas­ firmness and perseverance as well as to trophe of 1940. the tragic rhythm of events, in getting together a majority even among the THl!l STRUGGLE FOR THllI ARMlSTICBI members of the Cabinet led by Paul For eight months after the outbreak of Reynaud. On June 11 the Government the war, very little had happened along moved to Tours. Up to the last minute, FRANCE UNDER THE ARMISTICE II

Paul Reynaud allowed the French to deprive the Marshal of all constitutional hope for a resistance which the military authority. leaden had recognized as impossible and It was during those tragio days that in which he did not believe himself. On the political support of Pierre Laval June 13, in the face of the inadequacy of made it po88ible for the Marshal to .British aid, Paul Reynaud made a last frustrate all intrigues. On June 23 he -and vain appeal to America and ad­ demanded from President Lebrun the dressed a telegram to President Roosevelt. nomination of Laval as Minister of State. On June 14, the Government reached Without the IIpOntaDeowl _mbly 01 the memo ben 01 the Chambers, 8nt at the Town Hall of Bordeaux. There were no signa of BordeaWl:. then at the Municipal Atheluleum. American aid. The following day, Paul without the reeulting majority, without the in· Reynaud resigned. His place was taken aiatent, ardent, imp6llioned action of Laval, the invuion would have been total and Franoe deprived by Marshal petain. of her leaden in the hour 01 her greateet Deed. TIIlI ROAD TO OOKPIBaNE Thus wrote Deputy Jean Montigny in his book, The Truth About a Tragic The first government of Marshal Petain, M ontA in Our History. constituted on June 15, 1940, at 11 p.m., But simultaneously England stepped was a government in. On June 22, of circumstance. Churchill addressed Formed by a re­ the French Govem­ shuftle of the Rey­ ment ininexcusable naud Cabinet, from terms, dissociating which the support­ in advance the en of "war to the French people from bitter end" had its Government and been excluded and appealing to them replaced by mem­ todesert. Thesame bers of the Cham­ day, over the same ben who had been radio station, the presentatBordeaux former Under­ and who approved secretary of State the request for an for National De­ armistice, it was fense of the Rey­ constituted with the naud Govemment, utmost urgency in General de Gaulle, order to induce the who was on a mis­ enemy to com­ sion to London and mence the pour­ who had refused to parler8 which had return to France, already been too 10Il8 deferred. supported that appeal and urged rebel­ On J nne 16 Petain informed the na­ lion. But events took their course. tion: "Tonight I addressed the enemy On June 22, at 6.50 p.m. (German to ask him if he is prepared to seek with Summer Time), the armistice convention me, as among soldiers, after the battle between France and Germany was signed and in all honor, th~ means of bringing in the forest of Compiegne (for excerpts hoetilities to a cloee." see the documentary appendix); and But the coalition of politicians had not on June 24 that between France and Aid itslaBt word. The days that followed Italy, in Rome at 7.15 p.m. On June 25, saw a suooeuion of vari01l$ maneuvers at 12.35 midnight, hostilities ceased. whioh attempted to make the Government go back on its decision or to thwart that VICHY AND MERS-EL-]UIBIB decision tI\rough a departure of the On June 27 Marshal Petain reshuftled President of the Republic, which, would his Cabinet; Pierre Laval remained Vice~ 12 THE XXt.h CENTURY

President of the Council. On June 29 The Government is facing one of the most dimcult ~tuatiOD8 France baa ever known. w~ the Government left Bordeaux and estab­ must re-establish the country's communications, lished itself for two days at Clermont, ~d every man back to hill home, to his work. where once Pope Urban II had pro­ eD8W'8 food supplies. We must negotiate and conclude peace.... France, vanquished in. claimed the first Crusade. On July 1 heroio battles, abandoned yesterday and attacked' it was installed at Vichy. today by England, for whom she had made tI()o many and such hard aacrifices, remains face to­ On July 3 a British squadron opened face alone with her deatiny. fire on French units anchored at Mers-el­ The Marshal also formulated the motto. Kebir (Oran). Against a France for whose of the new France: "Le Travail, lao defeat it carried a great share of responsi­ FamiUe, la Patrie" ( work, family,. bility, her ally of yesterday aimed its can­ country ). nons. The tragedy continued. Professor The armistice left France defeated. cut in two­ Georges Portmann, French delegate to by a line of demarcation. Ravaged cities, dis~ the Armistice Commission of Wiesbaden rupted communicatioD8, milliOD8 of human being8' d.isJ>ersed, destroyed provisions-everything pro. (formed on the basis of the armistice claimed an ilm08t irremediable defeat .••• Be. convention), hurried to Vichy. Received cause she had neglected to negotiate more quickly, as her military leadore had advised her, and aJeo. at once by GeneralWeygand, heput before because she was anxious to do nothing which could him the necessity of an immediate change­ have repercussions on her defaulting ally, France· over of French policy. "The British," he had to accept eov8re terma. [E. Fabre, Swiu­ said, "have made the gesture which TUlimoniGl: Fro_ OM Year A/1M eM ArmiMicc.} releases us from their grasp-let us profit It was necessary to act quickly and to. by it." set to work immediately. Weygand agreed. Portmann saw Laval, THE FIRST GOVERNMF.NT whom he found favorable to his sugges­ 0]1' THE NEW STATE tion. Then, with Laval, he went to In a constitutional manner Marsha} Petain, whom Portmann's arguments did Petain obtained, on July 10, the necessary not take by surprise. It was obvious powers for the reconstruction of France­ that he had already visualized the pos­ bom the regime which the military sibility now opened up to him. From disaster had brought with it, i.e., from that moment on, the idea of collaboration the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, with Germany was retained by the sitting together as a "National Assembly'" Marshal: "I would have to meet Hitler," according to the constitution of 1875. he said. Then, turning to Portmann, On that day, Marshal Petain became the he added: "I will go and see him when Chief of the new "French State." he wants, where he wants; for I am sure • His second government (the first one that France will derive lasting benefit of the new state) still included, under­ from such a meeting." military leadership, some politicians. It. THE :MARSHAL'S PROGRAlI was a government, however, already clearly directed towards making use The outlines of the Marshal's policy of competent men whom the former­ were already appearing. It was going parliamentary regime had not sufficiently to be necessary "to learn the lesson from utilized because of conditions and regula­ lost battles": at home, to reinstate order, tions which forced upon the President to break definitely with the errors of a of the Council the constant worry of recent past, to search for solid founda­ keeping a majority. tions before beginning to reconstruct; To the difficulties of every kind re­ abroad, to direct the country towards sulting from the war was added the' the defense of her interests, "towards a campaign of disunion among the French,. national egoism which years of democrat­ a campaign led abroad by other French­ ic education and propaganda have taught men, some of whom may have been her to forget." acting in good faith but the majority of' On July 11 the Marshal outlined his whom were only serving their own in­ program: terests. But, after a period of COnfusiQDI FRANCE UNDER THE ARMISTICE 13 and discouragement, order was reinstated. brought to their ills ..•• I have on many OCcasiOIUl discovered with real pain that the Government's in. Frenchmen began to breathe and live tentions were travestied and distorted by base once more, to "live as usual." And if propaganda, and measures ripely reflected upon is were prevented from bearing fruit by the inertia, it there that, according to some, the inability, or betrayal of too great a number of the miracle was accomplished by Marshal agents who were to carry them out. [August 13, Petain, this miracle was accomplished 1940]. without the French being conscious of But if he succeeded in touching the it, without France clearly realizing what, hearts and minds of those who made the in all her misfortune, was exceptional and effort to understand, which he asked of privileged in her lot. them, there still remained far too many A reshuffie of the Cabinet removed who, although in good faith, refused to from the Government the last of the understand. politicians-with the exception of Pierre To eliminate them, or to coerce them, Laval-who were now replaced by ex­ would doubtless have accelerated a dis­ perts. Ripert, Dean of the Faculty of unity which dissenting propaganda is Law of Paris, for instance, became stiU trying at great cost to maintain. Minister of Public Instruction, and Ber­ With great wisdom, Marshal Petain em­ thelot, the Director General of the Na­ ployed moderation, even when this might tional Society of Railways, was made have appeared-a priori and to some Minister of Communications. General people-lmfavorable to the interests of Weygand left the Ministry of National the nation. From the very beginning, Defense, which was abolished, and was unity was what seemed to him funda­ charged with co-ordinating the adminis­ mental. He never ceased to desire it, tration and defense of French Africa in to urge it on every occasion: the capacity of General Deleg-a.te of the The salvation of France, which would be en· dangered by our discords, will be the reward of Government. The work of rehabilita­ our union. [August 13, 1940.] France has lost tion and renovation already undertaken the war ••.. But her unity-a unity forged by was continued at home, while Laval con­ a thowsand years of effort and aacrmce-mUBt remain intact. It must not be compromised. ducted important negotiations with Ger­ [September 3, 1940.] many. The result.s were not long in appearing: PRESERVING THE _ Three million refugees \ I and two million mobi. UNITY OF FRANCE ~ lized men have been sent The French, in­ "...... back to their homee. The majority of the fluenced by the bridges destroyed by supporters of the war have been reopened fallen regime who to traffic. Transporta. t.ion has been reo were beginning to established almost en· hope once again tirely. In 1688 than six God weeks. an immenB6 for knows what legislative task, a task return to the past,. which no government did not all realize would have dared to undertake. haa been ac­ as they should the complished .... The difficulties and the new regime is national extent of the task to in foreign policy, hierar. chic in domestic policy, be aceomplis h e d . co-ordinated and super. On numerous oc­ vised in economics, and, casions Marshal above all, social in its attitude and in its in. Petain tried to clar­ stitutions. [Radio addrees, ify their opinions: October 9, 1940.] I want them to know too that I undentand Thus, from July to their impatience, their October 1940, al­ exasperationeven, at the all too frequent inade­ though he had to re­ qoacy of tho remedies Manhal Ptltain instate order among THE XXth CENTURY

people and things, the Marshal neverthe­ Foreign Mairs. On November 10, the less already accomplished. the essence of Laval-Goring negotiations and conversa­ the most urgent reforms which for several tiOD8 in Paris bore their first fruits in the years the majority of public opinion had form of repatriation of the soldiers in­ been crying for: reform of the Govern­ terned. in Switzerland, release from cap­ ment, purging of the administration, tivity of fathers of four or more children, meaaures against Freemasonry and Jews, and other alleviatioD8. On November social justice. 18, Deputy G. Scapini, who had been At the same time he studied. and laid blinded in the Great War and who is in down the outlines of his plan of action. charge of the administration of prisoners But before starting on its realization, he of war with the rank of ambassador, was no doubt preferred. to feel himself sup­ able to announce appreciable headway ported. in this taak by the enthusiasm of concerning the question of prisoners of the French. By frequent appeals for war; but he said: unity, by &8 many personal contacts &8 The war is not )-ot finished. U the Freocb ItiU regard Germany aa an enemy. it is childish to uk possible, by journeys through the un­ her to rel_ prisoners of war. Moreover. how occupied. zone, he BOught to obtain this can one know whether Franco haa underetood support, for, he realized.: "A revolution the harsh I~n which history baa jU8t given her? is only accomplished if the nation under­ Urgent voices "ere raised, like that of stands and calls for the Cardinal Arch­ it, if the people bishop of Paris, Mon­ follow the Govern­ signor Baudrillart, on blent on the path of November 20: necessaryrenovation." The lIfarshlll haa pro. Marshal Petain pre­ nounced words which are not plouing to imagina. sented his plan of tiona too long poisoned by action to the peo­ ready·made phI'UM which ple of France on are not considered opiniona. Th_ warda which tho October 11 in a mes­ M.ar8bal baa lot .pring from sage which, because his upright and' well· informed conscience are of its fundamental words of co-operation and importance, is re­ collaboration. Jn the mouth printed in English among the Documents of a man of honor so absolutely diaintel'Olltod. who would reaUy have desired nothing in the world of this issue. Here for the first time but a little I"OlIt instead of end. battle8. .ucla the idea of European collaboration words cannot faU under .uspicion. was clearly expressed, as well lL'J the But for the people to follow the Govern­ problem of Franco-German relations, ment on the path of necessary renova­ toward the solution of which Laval tion it was necessary for the Marshal had been working since July.. once again to modify his Government. "For high re&8OD8 of domestic policy," THE HANDSHAKE OF MONTomE he dissociated himself on December 14 On October 24, 1940, Chancellor Hitler from Laval, whom he replaced by Pierre­ and Marshal Petain met in the FUhrer's Etienne Flandin, "who seemed to him special train at the little station of more suited than his predece880r to Montoire. Six days later the Marshal, in follow with the support of public opinion a radio speech reprinted in the appendix, a policy of mpprocAmaent with Germany." informed. the people of France of what (Communiqoe of the Ministry of informa­ he called "the first step towards the tion at Vichy, December 15.) rehabilitation of our country." Communist and de Gaullist propaganda, In order sucoess£ully and with the in spite of the Marshal's precise declara­ indispensable authority to carry out his tions, ma4e haste to interpret the event negotiatioD8, Laval received. from the &8 a change of direction and a halt in Marshal on October 28 the portfolio of the policy of collaboration. Would that FRANCE UNDER THE ARMISTICE interpretation influence German opinion1 of the Third Republic and the new state, It really seemed as if Flandin would not we have prepared two charts. be able to resume, as he doubtless wished, the negotiations which had been broken FR.L."WE'S NEUTRALITY off. France is not in a position to carry THE NEW STATE on an aggressive policy. She must depend The political crisis of December re­ almost solely on the generosity and under­ sulted in a campaign of the Paris press standing of those who were her friends insisting on the convocation of the or enemies; she must carry out the Chambers. The :Marshal's reply to this obligations arising from the armistices was the creation on January 24, 1941, of she has signed, even at the cost of re­ a National Council, the 188 members of newed sacrifice of the lives of her children. which were chosen by him. Among these She has defended against British aggres­ were members of the Chambers; pol­ sion her colonial empire when it was iticians such as de la Roque and Doriot; attacked at Dakar, in equatorial Africa, outstanding men of letters; musicians; in Syria, and in Madagascar. She has savants; and churchmen. It was divided signed economic and military treaties into committees, each with its particular with Japan to safeguard her interests in field of study, as, for instance, Committee the organization of Greater East Asia. of Trade Organization, Committee for She has authorized and supported the the Study of the New Constitution, etc., creation of a "French Legion of Volun­ which only assembled when convoked by teers against Bolshevism," which is taking the Chief of State and which reta.iJ.:led no part shoulder to shoulder with German legislative or executive power. troops in the struggle against the Soviets. She has negotiated special agreements The beginning of 1941 saw the first with America regarding :Martinique, Guia­ renewal of contact between :Marshal na, and the Antilles and the provisioning Petain and Pierre Laval and numerous of North Africa, and she has not appealed conversations. On February 10, Admiral in vain to the generosity of America, who Darlan was designated as possible succes­ hassentsomefood butwith whom relations sor to the Chief of State. The press have been strained of late. foresaw great changes among the col­ laborators of the :Marshal; and the con­ In a world torn by war, France's versations between Admiral Darlan and present neutral position is very precarious. Laval in Paris gave rise to a belief in the There is no doubt that the momentary early return of the latter to the Govern­ 1088 of more of her colonies would in­ ment. fluence her attitude toward the nations On February 25 the new Cabinet was involved. formed, in which Admiral Darlan retained Everything points to the fact that the the portfolios of the Navy, the Interior, growing intercontinental aspect of the and Foreign Affairs. From this developed conflict will hasten the creation of a a tendency towards reducing the political European unity, which is inevitable; and personnel, which from then on was com­ the Franco-German collaboration accepted poeed, apart from the :Marshal, of four and followed by :Ma.rshal Petain is nothing members: Admiral Darlan, General Hunt­ but an indispensable step towards its ziger, J. Barthelemy, and P. Caziot, realization. _~ by Undersecretaries of State. It really seemed as if the ministerial FREED FROM THE TUTELAGE OF MONEY persoDDel had achieved the cohesion poped In the domestic accomplishments of for l>y th~ Marshal. From then on it the last two years, one must distinguish only ohanged once, one year later, to between those that are only of a temporary make way for a new government, this nature and those that will serve as a time led by Laval. To show more clearly basis for the general reform of French the difterences between the organization institutions. • THE THIRD REPUBLIC (Constitution of 1875)

EXBCUTIYB POWER LEGISLA'l'IVE POWER .JUDICIARY POWER

Parllam_t Prealdeat of tIM Repabllc (two ehambe",) CcHmclll of .$e eIeeted for a period III 7 yean by eoanof~ \be two Chambel'll UDlted III the 8enaUl Chamber of Deputies "Natlolla1 AlIICl1IIbly" CcIIIrQ of Appeal Gonram_t Trlb1iDalt by Umlted a prrlod of 1'rMIdent 01 the Council (=Premier) "lected "Ieeted for aulfrqe. One thlrd 4 y"ara by unh·crsa! caIJed In by tho l'r

"ETAT FRANCAIS", (Preeent OTganization llinoe April 1942)

EXECUTIYB POWER LEGISLATIVE POWU I .JUDICURY POWU e-acu of S..re CHIEF OF STATE (Marabal P6taln) (appoiDted by \be Chlef of State I and advlola. hlml

CbIef of the Govrrnment ChI"f of the Armed P_ Nau.a1 e-cu Supreme Court ot .Juatke (Plene Laval) ftlIIlClIDSlble of land. -. and air (UDder reorpnlDtIoa) IOIltary eoan (Admlra! Dar1aD). dlvided IDto commlueea to the ChIef of State 8&a&e TrIbuDaIa IODIIten, 8ecretarIeI of ChoaeD 111llCSIOr to the BeT~ Stale ChIef of State Coart III Coarb ot ApjlNl ~ by tJie ChIef JI( \be Gov~t .. TrIbuDaIa rwpoDllble to hlm but DOIDlnaW by the CbId ofS&a&e Underteertltarlflll of State FRANCE UNDER THE AIUIlSTICE 17

Among the first, let us note the pro­ On September 15, 1940, in an article visional reorganizations in administra­ which appeared in La RevlU du Deux tion: attempt at decentralization; re­ Mo'Tflk8, Marshal Petain, after having grouping of several dipartemn&l8 into successively rejected liberalism, capital­ administrative regions under the guidance ism, and communism, concluded: "The of a "Regional Prefect," a kind of pro­ National-Socialist idea of the pre­ vincial governor furnished with extensive eminence of work and of its essential powcrs but personally responsible for his reality as compared to the fictitious value administration; solutions brought to the of money is one which we have all the problem of food suppliesj economic re­ less diffioulty in a.ccepting as it is part of organizations, the first experiment of our classical heritage." which delivered them into the power of On the following foundations, already the trusts. This was contrary to the practically in force since September 1939, will of the Marshal, as was confirmed by French eoonomy was reorganized: the his dismissing the Minister responsible. franc has ceased to be based on gold; On August 12, 1041, he once again money is used only for domestio pay­ stressed thc social nature of the struggle: ments; inflation and rise in prices are "I intend that our country should be avoided by strict State control, while the freed from the most despicable tutetage­ circulation of money is reduced by the that of money." All these provisional enforced use of bank oheques. reforms were destined more or less to undergo a thorough reshuftle after the THE TRIAL OF RIOH country has been freed or after peace Immediately following the National has been signed. Assembly, Marshal Petain fonned, by The chief measures destined to serve Constitutional Act No.5, a "Supreme as a basis for the new construction refer Court of Justice," which was charged to socia.l organization: the Labor Charter with the trial of those men, both civil and the rural corporations. The legisla­ and military, who were responsible for tive work in this field is immense but the French disaster. The Court took still too little known to be discussed in office on August 8 in the Palace of Justice detai1. The Marshal summarized it.8 at Riom. The introductory indictment leading principles in his New Year's read on August 13 by the Public Pros­ message of January 1942: "Pre-eminence ecutor stated that the Court's action of labor, hierarchy of values, sense of should be taken against "those who have responsibility, mutual confidence within betrayed the obligations of their duty in the trades." acts which led to the transition on 18 THE XXth CENTURY

September 4, 1939, from a state of peace seem to have thrown any light on the to a state of war and in acts which have proceedings. The litigious skill of the further aggravated the consequences of attorneys, the habitual political tricks the situation thus created." of the accused, distorted the atmosphere The first to be accused were Guy La and appeared to triumph over the desire Chambre and Pierre Cot, both former for clarity expressed by Marshal petain. Ministers of Aviation; then Edouard On April 14, 1942, a decree of the Chief Daladier, General Gamelin, Leon Blum, of State suspended the current proceed­ Georges Mandel, and Paul Reynaud were ings after twenty-four hearings and successively accused. On September 14 ordered a supplementary inquiry to re­ they were arrested and interned in the direct the examination to the original prison at Bourra.ssol. startipg-point-''thetransitionfromastate But the preliminary inquiry in a trial of peace to a state of war"-instead of of such dimensions, under particularly basing it solely on the responsibility fol' difficult conditions of investigation, en­ the military defeat. tailed lengthy delays. Public opinion became restless at the delay in deter­ KORAL REHABILITATION mining the extent of guilt, and the en­ suing unrest decided the Marshal to "It is above all an intellectual and intervene himself. moral rehabilitation that I ask of you." On August 12, 1941, };le announced the In pronouncing these words in 1940. formation of a "Council of Political Marshal Petain knew that he would Justice," which he charged with making have the entire approval of the French a pronouncement before October 15 on people in the execution of measures the responsibilities incurred. On October indispensable to the carrying out of the 16 he announced: "The Council of Po­ rehabilitation: punishment of deserters, litical Justice has handed me its decisions. prosecution of those responsible for the They are clear, complete, and perfectly political and military disaster, revision motivated." Therefore he ordered as of naturalizations, solution of the Jewish political sanction the detention of Dala­ problem, etc. dier, Blum, Gamelin, Reynaud, andMandel The abuses of the defunct regime have at the Fortress of Pourtalet, while theother given birth to a strong feeling on the accused, whose responsibility was rec­ part of public opinion against the Jews ognized as being less serious, were to re­ and Freemasons. The measures for the main interned at the prison of Bourrassol. defense of race, family, youth, and trades Meanwhile, the Court of .Riom re­ taken by the new French State, shocking mained in session. On February 17, as they might seem to a spiritimbued with 1942, the trial opened. But in the first democraticdoctrines, havenonetheless cer­ hearings devoted to the ques- . tainly been widely approved tioning of the accused the by the French; and it would political atmosphere of the not be correct to see in past regime reappearedwithin them-as Anglo-Saxon prop­ the frame of the Palace of aganda would have us be­ Justice. The accused politi­ lieve-nothingbut an attempt cians tried to shift· all at alignment with the responsibility for the military domestic policies of the Axis disaster onto the High Com­ countries. In order to further mand and the Army, while this rehabilitation, Marshal General Gamelin refused to Petain appealed to the speak. veterans whom hereorganized The questioning of the into the ''French Legion of accused and the hearing of War Veterans" on August 30, the first witnesses did not Leon Blum 1940. FRANCE UNDER THE ARIDSTICE 190

FOR YOUTH AND THE FAMITLY become the constant care of the Chief of State and his collaborators. As early as 1934, the Marshal had expounded his ideas on the vital problem The youth groups and organizations of education. From the very day after already existing are being simultaneously the armistice, it was one of the first maintained and united. There are, for reforms that he undertook. His prin­ instance, the "Chantiera de Jeunuse," vast open-air labor camps in which 90,000 ciples were: young Frenchmen, demobilized under the­ To aim at a genuine unity of education armistice, are assembled, to work in the­ through abolishing the double form of service of the country in fields varying primary and secondary education, the in accordance with local requirements only result of which was to accentuate and consisting of forestry work, or the social differences; building of roads, trails, or stadia. To reimbue, first teachers, then pupils, Others reassemble the youth of France­ with the sense of nationalism, which after school and strive to give it the­ ,pernicious ideologies had dulled; social and physical training complemen­ tary to intellectual and sport education. ~ religion in its proper posi- They will make use of the nation's youth tw m the moral education of French for such social and national tasks as youth through prescribing moral pro­ may arise. grams for public schools and through fleeing private schools from the laws of These reforms and the principles which ~ception which hindered their develop- inspire them are nothing but the first ment; ., spark setting off the gigantio task of the rebirth of a nation in the universal chaos Finally, to encourage the physical re­ of a world torn by a war which is being generation of the race through a reduction conducted on all its continents. of the scholastic programs and through compulsory sports. THE RETURN OF LAVAL If vast changes took place and numer­ With the return of Pierre Laval on ous reforms were carried out during the April 18, the functions of the Chief of period from July 1940 to March 1942, State, Marshal Petain, were separated this was much more in the technical and from those of the Chief of the Govern­ moral than in the political field. And if ment, Laval. The personnel of the Gov­ the different Secretaries of State for ernment henceforth represents a homo­ National Education were all chosen £x:om geneous policy approved by the Marshal, the intellectual elite of the nation, the who remains the arbiter of the national present holder of that office, Abel Bon­ destiny. At the same time, his chosen nard, is almost the only one to have successor, Admiral Darlan, is placed by shown a clearly defined political tendency. his direct orders outside the Government. In doing this, he is following the directions and receives among his powers the of the Marshal which appeared in La supreme command of all the forces of Revue du Deux Mondes of August 1940: land, sea, and air. "Life is not neutral: it consists in taking While a million and a half of her sides boldly." sons are prisoners of war in Germany, Finally, France has replaced the in­ France is forced to fight at home against credible ''Ministry of Leisure" of the Bolshevist propaganda which is exploiting . Popular Front by the Ministries of all the difficulties growing from defeat Family, of Youth, and of Public Health. and continued war, such as division of . The family, the chief cell in the new the country into two zones and difficultie& order, is receiving at the hands of the of food supply. new State the protection and respect due After two months in office, equipped to it. Youth, "springtime of the na­ with the necessary political powers, and tion," is no longer left to itself; it has enjoying the confidence of the Chief of 20 THE XXth CENTURY

State, Pierre Laval is now leading France But, ae does the Marshal, the Chief of towards a realistio policy. the Government needs the support of the country, which alone " can "It is my desire to restore normal and turn a rational policy into a fertile confident relations with Germany and policy." Italy," he declared in his speech of June 21. "A new Europe will inevitably It will prepare France to play her role emerge from this war. This Europe is in the new Europe in obtaining for her often spoken of. It is a term to which friendships in the world which will turn France hae not yet become very accus­ out to be of the greatest 1188 in the days tomed. One loves one's country because after peace is restored. one loves one's village. As for me, a In this way, in one of tile most tragio Frenchman, I wish that tomorrow we periods of French history, only the may be able to love a Europe in which presence of Marshal p,tain made it France will have a place worthy of her. possible to ensure the necessary 000­ 10 order to build up this Europe, Ger­ tinuity of views. Frequently repeated many is now waging gigantio battles. changes, which the enemies of the new She, together with the others, must State interpret ae signs of weakness, are coneent to immenee sacrifices, and does actually nothing but the reflection of not even spare her youth, which she is successive efforts to carry out a well­ withdrawing from factory and field to defined, determinedly followed program, throw it into the battle. a program which must satisfy hopes which are purely French although it "I desire Germany's victory because, coincides with the way such hopes without it, Bolshevism will spread every­ have been realized by France's neigh­ where." bors.

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