Evening star., 1939-09-03
Tor our Lorraine worth after denials
Of guarantees given to Austria,
Czecho-Slovakia and Poland?
WoulA Win AS.inst Er.ncs

masters OF McXQauSClDlc natural
riches, aggressors would turn them
selves soon against France with all
their forces.
Our honor is therefore today the
gauge of our security. 1t Is not this
abstract honor, this archaic honor
Of which conquerOrs speak to justify
their violence 1t Is the dignity of a
pacific people who have no hatred
for any people in the world and who
never have engaged themselves ex-
cept for safety, its liberty and life.
At the price Of our honor we
would only buy a precarious, revoc-
able peace, and when we would have
to fight tomorrow, having lost the
esteem OF other nations, we would
be nothing more than a miserable
people, fated for defeat and servi-
tude.
am sy-s that there is not a single
Frenchman who could have such
thoughts. But I know, gentlemen,
that it is hard for those who have
consecrated all their life to the de-
fense Of peace, who always have
been animated by the ideal of peace,
to reply by force b the undertak-
ings of violence. I, chief Of the
government, shall not make in these
tragic hours an apology for war.
I fought as most of you. 1 re-
member it.
I shall not utter one of those
words which real veterans consider
blasphemous. shall simply ac-
complish my duty as an honest
man.
None Has Hate for Germans.
While we deliberate, Frenchmen
rejoin their regiments. None of
them has hate in their hearts for
German people. None of them will
let themselves be intoxicated by a
call to violence and brutality. But
all are ready to do their duty with
that calm courage which a con-
science without reproach inspires.
You, gentlemen, who know what
Frenchmen think, you who even
yesterday were among them in our
provincial cities and our fields, you
who saw them leave. You will bear
me out II evoke their thoughts
here.
They are pacific men, but they
are resolved to all sacrifices to de-
fend the dignity and liberty of
France. If they replied to our ap-
peal as they did without hestita-
tion, without murmur, it was be-
cause they all felt that the existence
OF France is in danger.
You know better than anv one
that nothing could make France
mobilize to throw herself into a
haphazard venture.
They are not Frenchmen who have
risen to invade the territory of a
foreign state. Their heroism is the
herolsm OF defense and not the
heroism of conquest. When France
rises 1t is because she feels threat
ened.
Fealty From All Empire.
1t Is not only France which has
arisen, but also all of that immense
empire which lives under the pro-
lection of our tri-color flag. From
all corners OF the world moving
testimonies Of loyalty reach the
mother country in this day. To the
union of all Frenchmen comes from
across the seas the reply of the
union of all the peoples who live
under our protection and who are in
danger. They offer us their support
If we still must use our force, if all
moral sense, if all glimmer of reason
has vanished from our adversaries.
II we do not keep our engage
ments. If we let Germany crush
Poland in few months, in perhaps
few weeks, what will we say to
France If France again must be
called up before aggressor?
Then these soldiers, now so re-
solved. will ask us what we have
done with our friends. They will
be alone under the most terrible
OF threats and perhaps will lose that
confidence which inspires them now.
In these hours when the destiny
OF Europe is decided, France speaks
to us through the voice of her sons.
through the voice of all those who
accepted the supreme sacrifice if it
becomes necessary. Let us find again,
like them, the spirit which has in
spired all heroes of our history.
France rises up with such enthusi-
asm only when she has faith to
hight for her life, her independence.
1t is France which commands TODAY