Evening star., 1949-02-07
Thank You Train
Arrival Draws
1900 Here
Frunco-Americun Link
Stressed by BorkIey
And Vundenberq

Another link in the chain Of
Franco-American solidarity was
forged here yesterday when high
officials of both nations renewed
pledges of continued cooperation
and friendship in connection with
the arrival in Washington of the
Thank You train.
Vice President Barkley and
Senator Vandenberg, Republican
Of Michigan, keynoted Americas
acceptance Of the gratitude train
from France, while French Am
Henri Bonnet headed the
delegation presenting the gift to
the United States.
The ceremony, attended by
about 5000 persons, was held at
the Pennsylvania Railroads Four
teenth street yards. where the nine
cars of the Thank You train are
to be on display all day today. The
other 40 cars of the train-actually
40 and 8" type French boxcars
on American-gauge fiat
cars-are crammed with all kinds
Of gifts from the people of Erapce.
The train was sent to this coun-
try in gratitude for the Friend
ship food train sent by the United
States to France a year ago when
the French food supply shrank to
a critical point.
Link Is Praised.
II don't know what is in these
cars" Vice President Barkley told
the crowd, "but what pleases me
more than the beauty and value
of the gifts is that what has
come to us are the hearts of
France.
This ceremony is only one Of
many kindred incidents which
link our two nations together.
We are happy to know that the
spirit of France is not dead. The
and French people will
stand together in the fight for
democracy and justice"
Senator Vandenberg, former
of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee, declared:
This is a significant and elo-
quent moment in the relation
ship between the French and the
United States people. 1t speaks
not from government to govern
ment but from countryside to
countryside in terms of these
human values that have bound
our people together for 200 years.
This is an inspiring moment
in the way of life commended
by the Prince of Peace"
French Ambassador Speaks.
Speaking for the people of
France, Ambassador Bonnet said:
Il want you to know how close
my people are to you. They lis
tened to the Voice of America
during the dark days Of the war.
They thank you now for helping
liberate them from the oppressor
as well as. for the gift of the
Friendship Train"
Columnist Drew Pearson, who
originated the idea of the Friend
ship food train, said the gifts Of
the French people were more
precious than gold and rubies. He
said the "merci'' train was a
memento in perpetuity of a
peoples gratitude. Mr.. Pearson
acted as master of ceremonies at
the ceremony.
Michel Junot, head of the
French Gratitude Train Committee
and personal representative of the
premier. officially presented the
contents of half a boxcar to Sal
Wind o. Olson, chairman of the
District committee. Mr.. Olson, who
was chairman of the Lions Club
Committee that raised the money
for the District car in the Friend
ship Train, accepted plaque from
Mr.. Junot on behalf of the peo-
pie of Washington.
Hawaii to Get Gift.
The other half of the Districts
car of gifts will go on to Hawaii.
The gifts for the people of
Washington will be catalogued and
put on display in the windows of
Woodward and Lothrop's depart
ment store this week. The Thank
You Train Committee of the Dis
trict will meet later to decide how
the gifts are to be disposed of.
Earlier yesterday, French-Amer-
lean friendship was symbolized in
ceremonies at Arlington Gene
terry where a f1ambeau was lighted
with fire from the eternal flame
burning under the Arch of Tri-
umph in Paris.
Several hundred Americans and
of the French colony
here braved the chill morning air
to attend the rites. Army band
and a 16-man honor guard from
the Third Infantry Regiment par
ticipated in the ceremony which
Legionnaires and French
war veterans paid homage to the
Unknown Soldier.
U. S. Flag Returned.
Rodolphe Rufenacht, former
commander of the War Veterans
of LIE Havre. presented a historic
Flag to Owen c. Hol-
leran, chairman of the Sacred
Torch Committee and American
Legion National Executive Com
from the District. The
flag was presented to the French
veterans of LIE Havre in 1885 when
they visited the United States.
When the Germans occupied lie
Havre, the Flag was the only
banner saved from the
destruction of war.
This Flag, entrusted to the war
veterans of LIE Havre," Mr.. Rufe-
nacht said, "is now yours as a
token of their friendship and
F."