Terror in France
At a moment when innocent French hostages have been shot by the Germans in reprisal for the murder of a German soldier, and brutal measures of repression are being taken in Occupied France in the hope of stopping sabotage, Marshal Main chooses the occasion to reprove his countrymen and in effect ranges himself on the side of the terrorists. In his broadcast appeal to Frenchmen in the occupied territory he both condemns the " criminals " and calls for the assistance of Frenchmen in htinting them down. He appeals to French " tradition " at a time when his own Government is breaking it by arbitrary arrests in Nice, Lyons and Central France of persons whom it chooses to style Communists, and collaborating with the Nazis by emulating their Gestapo methods. Un- doubtedly there have been very many recent instances where Frenchmen in occupied territory have turned upon their per- secutors, and sabotage has been increasing. There have also been cases in unoccupied territory where Frenchmen called on to work for Germany have downed tools. These things happen in countries where conquerors oppress the population, and -may well happen when Quislings play the game of the con- queror, as is happening in Vichy France. It may be that there are Frenchmen who will listen with respect to the sanctimonious utterances of the aged Petain, but there can be few who are ready to be duped when he seeks to identify patriotism with active collaboration with the Nazis.
