The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-07-30
WNU Features, 1343 H Street, N. w.
Washington, D. c.

Washington, D. c.
Half way between July 4, Amer
ica's independence day, n July
IA, the anniversary of the accept
ance of the French constitution.
there falls a date that some day
may be celebrated as a milestone
in Franco-American history.
On July 9, 1912, the United States
government in a cautiously Worded
statement .'recognized' what was
described as the Contribution or
General de Gaulle and the work OF
the French National Committee IN
keeping alive the spirit of French
traditions and Institutions
The announcement made by
Secretary of State Hull pledged
"the lending of all possible mill
tary assistance to the French
National committee as a symbol
of French resistance in general
against the Axis powers
The important phrase in that SEN
tence, perhaps in the whole docu-
ment, is resistance in general
Packed into those three words is
the picture of a group Of men who
until July 9 had been carrying on
one of the most tragic struggles in
the history of France, carrying 1t
on without much help or hope from
the Allies. New life. new hope be-
gan for the French forces of re
sistance" against Germany.
It brought new unity to a move
ment of French patriots scattered
over the face of the earth.
Few people realized it, but
this guarded action of the state
department probably laid the
first solid paving stone in the
road that will one day lead to
Berlin.
OF course, very little can be said
of what the Free French move
ment means where it is vitality i'm
portant-within France.
But it is claimed that an almost
perfect intelligence system is now
operating within France. The Ger
mans know that what they do and
frequently what they plan cannot
be concealed from the French if it
takes place in France.
Immediately after the fall Of
France, Frenchmen spontaneously
began resistance" That resist
n c has now been definitely r
ganized and is directed from Lon
don by De Gaulle although groups
in France work in separate chan
nels. There are three main organ
izations: Liberation Francais; CON-
bat; and Frenc-Tireurs.
The first form of resistance" to
the Germans was the appearance of
little printed labels on walls, on
automobiles. on boxes and lamp
posts. Just short messages attack
ing the Germans, calling for resist
ance. Then the courageous met and
found ways and means to help each
other or help agents Of the Allies
to thwart the Germans. The more
aggressive began to steal dynamite
and blow up shops and railways.
Labor Unions Unified
BY this time General De Gaulle
had gathered about him leaders and
organizers. They were soon able
to get in and out Of France and the
organization work began.
1 am informed that for the
first time in history the French
labor unions have become uni
fed and are working together
solidly. The old socialist party
has been reformed, the old lead
ers have been displaced and the
group bears the name of the
young socialist party. Naturally
the communists are now CO.
operating fully.
The resistance" inside France is
carried on by groups and individu-
ais of every social and political
stratum.
Even the recognition of the Free
French as the de facto governors of
the Pacific islands, African posses
sions and the islands of Pierre and
St. Miquelon off Newfoundland still
left the Free French movement as
a whole, outside the pale Of CO.
operation. All this time the repre-
sentatives of Vichy remained in
their embassy in Washington but the
representatives Of the National
Gree French) took
headquarters in an Office building.
Indirectly they were aided financial
ly because an arrangement was
made whereby American %lease-lend
s,,pplies furnished to Great Britain