Evening star., 1941-03-19
Says French Masses
Support Britain
People Held Betrayed
By Small Groups
Of Rulers
By Edgar Ansel Mo1Drer.

but are ready to rise and take up the
fight again beside the British, when the
proper time comes, according to the
author of an anonymous message"
speaking in the name of an entire group
of French writer's, thinkers and scientists
who have subscribed to the ideas ex-
pressed.
This message" sent in February from
France and smuggled to London into
the hands of the eminent French jurist,
Prof. Rene Cassin, has now reached this
country. Slightly abridged and trans
lated, 1t reads as follows:
"Know. friends of France, wherever
you may be, that along with our defeat,
we French people have not accepted and
we do not accept, remuneration and
shame. Do not be deceived by appear
ances: The real France is not the
minority that accepted-if it did not
actually provoke-a surrender without
honor and repudiated a faithful COM
panion in arms by the betrayal of a
sacred pact.
Nor is it the bunch of politicians and
journalists, who in the service of q cor
rupt press and venal radio, fawn upon
today's victor to insult yesterdays ally.
1T is the mass of oppressed and be-
trayed citizens whose suffering and
indignation We share, who do not accept
peace with dishonor; who do not
recognize a government that exists to
carry out the politics of the conqueror,
nor a form of state that is but a Carl
cature OF an obsolete regime. nor
conception of national honor that fits
into everything anti-French, namely,
servility and apostasy.
I'VE, ourselves, refuse to believe that
the rehabilitation of our country pre-
supposeS the sacrifice of liberty, law,
truth and honor. We refuse to believe
that the reorganization of Europe can
be achieved by violence and plunder. -. I.
AT the time liberal Germany extended
its hand in friendship, we accepted it..
though at the time we were Knocked by
those who today are the syncophants of
the Reich. We were the friends of Italy,
Russia, and Spain, when those nations
labored for universal peace. Today we
are the friends of England, the only re-
manning bulwark against tyranny, the
last champion of these ideals whose de-
fense had until now been the privileged
tradition of France.
Friends of England is an under
statement. We are bound to England
with the ties due loyal companion in
arms who has succumbed neither to the
| brutality of its enemy nor to the
treason Of its ally. Breathlessly anxious
in the face of Englands trials, shameful
at not sharing them, yet ready to rise
to action at the appropriate moment,
we remain confident of the outcome.
I'VE are with you, De Gaulle, Muselier,
Catroux, De Larminat; you who repre-
sent that which Is most French in the
French army, navy and air force; with
you CaSsln, who are saving the honor
OF French learning; with you, Eve Curie
and Bescourt-Foch, in whom the great
est names of France survive; with you,
soldiers, aviators, sailors, who, by con-
tinuing the struggle make it possible for
us to shout in the worlds face:
France and England are still united
for victory!'
After having courageouSly accepted a
war Of defenSe-defense of the liberty
OF all peoples even before being the de-
tense OF French territory-France, con-
quered by arms and, betrayed by internal
enemies, suddenly collapsed and, in the
depression of a stupefying defeat, seemed
| not only to submit but to cooperate with
| the victor.
THE people, both leaders and mass,
civilians and soldiers, appeared to sub
scribe to the acts of a government that,
breaking its pledged word, turned against
| its former allies; that outrunning the
commands of its masters; proclaimed
outrageous laws; condemned, in the
name of hateful and ridiculous racial
doctrine, many who have done most for
the country, that reigns through a men,
! dacious press and mendacious radio,
| in an unbelievable combination Of
ancient tyranny with modern dicta-
| torship.
who then protestsa Who then re-
sists? Admittedly, over in England q
handful of brave Frenchmen are not
only talking but fighting and dying.
| But in France. -"
mo, friends of France, wherever you
may be, these, our passing master-valets,
these governors by imitation, these docile
lawmakers and hired publicists do not
represent the soul of the nation and
will not be able to enslave us. We accept
neither their remuneration nor their re-
pudiation; nor the conqueror's law and,
above all, not his doctrines; we are
neither with those who adapt themselves
to the ignominious nor with those who
patiently await their salvation from
some miracle which they are not helping
to prepare For, along with a great
Englishman, we think that an unac-
cepted defeat is already the beginning
| of victory.
Furthermore, we know that we are
not alone. We notice each day more
clearly, whether it be through CONVEX
sations and tacit agreement or by signs
of suppressed rage and understanding
looks, the intensity Of the protest around
us.
| 1--WE feel the young French people
around us trembling with impatience
| and hone We feel the Subdued revolt