Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-03
French Government
Gave Pledge 10 U. 5.
10 Continue Fight
Reynoud Promise Made
With Appeal for Aid
Just Before Puris Fell

The United States was assured
only four days before the Germans
entered Paris in 1910 that the
French government would move to
North Africa or America to Con
tinue the fight" agaist the Axis If
driven out of France, the State De-
partment revealed last night.
That pledge came from Paul Rey-
maud, last French Premier before
the Petain regime, in connection
with an appeal to President Roose-
welt on June 10, 1910, for aid by
all means short of an expedition
airy force"
Some Of the previously undis-
closed details of French American
relations during that critical period
were made public in a 144-page
white Paper" reviewing this Gov
ernment's policy affecting peace and
war during the 1914 decade.
Dramatic Appeal.
When German troops entered
Paris on June IA, 1910, Premier Rey-
maud sent another dramatic appeal
to Mr.. Roosevelt, asserting that Eat
the most tragic hour" of its history
France must choose whether to con-
tinue resistance or ask for an arm
istice.
In the words of the State Depart
ment publication:
The Premier said that the only
chance of saving France, and
through her to save Great Britain,
was to throw into the balance this
very day the weight of American
power
Finally, the Premier said that if
the President could not give to
France in the hours to come the
certainty that the United States
would enter the war within a very
short time, the fate of the world
will change
"Then,' he said, you will see
France go under like a drowning
man and disappear after having
cast a last look toward the land of
liberty from which she awaited sal
vation.'"
fFcS10entS Reply.
Mr.. Roosevelt replied the next
day that increasing war sup
plies would be sent the French so
long as they Continued a defense
of their liberty" but that this was
no implication of military commit
ments.
In his earlier appeal on June 10
Mr.. Reynaud said, The French
would fight in front of Paris; would
fight behind Paris; would close
themselves in one of their provinces
to fight and if driven out of ii
would establish themselves in North
Africa to continue the fight, and
If necessary. in French possessions
in America"
Mr.. Roosevelt assured him then
this Government was doing all in
its power to redouble its aid to the
Allies, and said he was particularly
impressed by the Premier's declara-
ton that France would continue to
fight on behalf of democracy, al
though it meant slow withdrawal
even to North Africa and across the
Atlantic"
But after the fall of Paris and the
Reynaud cabinet, the regime headed
by Marshal Petain decided to seek
an armistice with Germany-but
more than two years later French
officials disavowed by Marshal Pc
tain were fighting the Germans
again in North Africa.
Fleet Pledge Kept.
Nevertheless, the Petain govern
ment kept pledge given Mr.. Roose-
welt the day after it assumed Office
that the French fleet would never
be surrendered to the enemy"
This categorical assurance was
received from Marshal Petain June
10, 1910. in response to a warning
from the President that if the
French government should fail tc
take steps to prevent the fleet be-
ing surrendered to Germany it will
permanently lose the friendship and