Petain Changes His Mind?

In Washington the U.S. Ambassador to Vichy, tall, bald Admiral William Daniel Leahy, sat down to his first press conference since he left France, a few days after Pierre Laval became Chief of Government. For the record Admiral Leahy said: 1) the U.S. had been wise in maintaining relations with Vichy; 2) the U.S. should help stricken France in every way that would not help the Axis; 3) "the people of France are practically unanimously pro-American."

In discussing what is actually going on in Vichy, the Admiral was extremely circumspect. Newshawks came away, however, with several definite impressions:

> That old Marshal Petain has changed his mind, now believes that the Axis cannot win the war.

> That Petain wants the Allies to win the war.

> That Petain is stoutly resisting increased Nazi pressure, exerted through Laval, including threats to starve the 1,500,000 French prisoners of war.

> That Pierre Laval obviously has not changed his belief that the Axis will win the war. If he had, he would be preparing to turn his coat, as he has done so many times before, and no such preparations are discernible.

> That Admiral Leahy has a high personal regard for Marshal Petain.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.