21 FEBRUARY 1941, Page 2

Change at Vichy

Stability has clearly not been reached at Vichy yet. The resignation of the Minister of the Interior, M. Peyrouton, and the assumption of the vacant post by Admiral Darlan, removes an open opponent of M. Laval, and gives the Admiral almost as many portfolios as Signor Mussolini has collected. Subject to Marshal Petain, Admiral Darlan may be said to be the Vichy Government. But the qualification is important. The Marshal still appears to keep a firm hold on things, and so far as is known Admiral Darlan, General Weygand in Africa and General Huntziger, the Minister for War, who is by no means a negligible figure, are all working quite harmoniously with him. Herr Hitler has manifestly not obtained the satisfaction of his desires, whatever precisely they may be, nor _has he any easy way of securing it if Marshal Petain continues to take his stand on the terms of the Armistice. But Marshal Petain is reputed to be anxious to move the seat of Government to Paris, and he may be tempted to some concession in return for that. Admiral Darlan is once more in Paris, and such visits may at any moment produce an important change in the situa- tion. All that can be said is that there is no sign of any substantial change yet. Nor does it appear that the interview between General Franco and Marshal Main had any political result. It is evident that neither Spain nor Vichy France desires to find itself engaged in hostilities on either side, and there is no reason why either should be entangled against its will.