Evening star., 1939-01-02
Da|adier Pledges
French Defense
For Corsitans
'MussoIini to the
ScoffoId,' Cries
Island Throng
By the Associated Press.

AJACCLO. Corsica. Jan. 2-French
Premier Daladier today answered
Italian clamor for Corsica. Frances
Mediterranean island department,
by telling the islanders France was
strong. and would protect them.
Cries of "Mussolini to the Scaf-
fold!" from thousands of demon
strating Corsicans interrupted Dala-
dier's reception at the town hall.
The mayor halted his address of
welcome until the windows could be
closed to shut out the noisy cries
of the crowd demonstrating against
1taly's anti-French campaign.
France does not need to be ag-
gressive or menacing,' the Premier
said. She has no need to raise her
voice. She must be strong; she is,
and it is that that I have come to
tell you now while this squadron
circles your island
He referred to feet of warships
in the Ajaccio Harbor which had
conveyed him from France and
which he pictured as an Image" of
Frances strength.
R0using Public Reception.
M. Daladier spoke at the Munich
pal Building after rousing, colorful
public reception.
while this squadron circles your
island" he said. Il wish every
farmer and every fisherman seeing
it pass to return to his home with
the calm of one who knows security.
This squadron is the image of
Frances strength and her vigilant
affection"
Thousands of islanders. many from
interior mountain towns. jammed
the water front cheering Corsica is
French"
The Premier was preceded by
native Corsican member of his cab
met, Navy Minister Cesar Cam
pinchi. who landed from the cruiser
Suffren.
A few minutes later NJ. Daladier
stepped ashore from the cruiser
Foch which rode in Ajaccio Harbor
with the Suffren and a convoy of
six naval vessels.
Through beflagged streets and
cheering crowds he drove to the
monument honoring the islands
10000 World War dead and received
a huge wreath from Corsican school
children. During a moment of
silence he placed it at the base of
the monument.
Defense Units Parade.
Soldiers. sailors and guns of the
islands defense units then paraded
in a brief review. AfterWard the
premier, fresh from winning pas
sage of his 1889 budget in Paris,
was whirled off for an official re-
ception at the town hall.
Guns laundering from the city's
forts and bells ringing from
churches added to music of military
bands and cheers of the crowds lin
ing the premier's route.
Above the Town Hall an old Cor
sican flag bearing a black Moors
head dating from the Crusaders
f1oated between two French tri-
colors.
M. Daladier. whose wife is of Cor
sican extraction, was greeted by the
mayor as "a CorSican by marriage"
Isle Reaffirms Loyalty.
This island department of France
reaffirmed its loyalty to the main
land government with signs pro-
claiming that Corsica is and always
will be French"
The huge signs were everywhere,
declaring the Corsican allegiance
to France against Italian colonial
aspirations.
Long before the Premier's cruiser
rounded the point of Ajaccio Har-
Dor for the first stop of his tour of
the nations outposts, double lines
of police took their places at the
docks and along the parade route
to city hall.
Special Guard for Consolate.
A special guard was ordered
around the italian consulate, scene
of recent demonstrations by Corsi-
cans against the Italian colonial
campaign in which the Fascist
press has argued for Italian domi-
nation of Corsica, Tunisia and other
French territory.
Thousands of residents from
towns and settlements outside the
capital jammed the city for a brief
glimpse of their government leader
before he left for Bastia, second
stop of the tour.
The prefecture Of police issued
(See DALADIER, Fage A-4)