They Speak for a Nation - Letters from France

THEY SPEAK FOR A NATION All profits and royalties from the sale of this boo will be applied to the relief of French prisoners of war. The distribution will be effected through such channels or agencies as appear to be safest and most efficient. ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE BOOK B. B. C., London British Broadcasting Corporation, London. C. B. S., New York Columbia Broadcasting System, New York. N. B. C., New York National Broadcasting Company, New York. W. R. U. L., Boston Short-wave station of WRUL, Boston, Mass. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE Introduction xiii I The Spirit of Resistance i II Life in Paris 38 III News from Alsace-Lorraine 56 IV The Prisoners of War 75 V The ChildrenThe Students 85 VI The Hardships of Material Life 96 VII The Vichy Government 126 VIII The Germans The Feeling about Collaboration 149 IX The Free French Forces 175 X England 201 XI America 216 PRINCIPAL EVENTS CONCERNING FRANCE, REFERRED TO IN THIS BOOK June 16, 1940 Demission of the Reynaud Government. Albert Lebrun, President of the French Republic, appoints Marshal Petain as Prime Minister. June 17, 1940 Marshal Petain asks Germany and Italy for an armistice, June 1 8, 1940 In a broadcast from London, General de Gaulle urges the French officers and soldiers to continue the fight against the Axis. June 22, 1940 Signing of the Franco-German Armistice. June 24, 1940 Signing of the Franco-Italian Armistice. June 25, 1940 Both armistices become effective. July 4, 1940 The British fleet and the French fleet clash at Oran. July 10, 1940 The French Republic is replaced by the French State. Marshal Petain becomes the Head of the State. August 7, 1940 A formal treaty is signed in London between Prime Minister Winston Churchill and General de Gaulle. England guarantees, for the day of victory, the restoration of France in her freedom and her greatness. August 22, 1940 The French colony of Equatorial Africa breaks with the Vichy Government and joins the Free French. August 26, 1940 The French colony of Chad joins the Free French. August 27, 1940-The French colony of Cameroon joins the Free French. September 23, 1940 General de Gaulle and his troops, supported by the British navy, attempt to seize Dakar, and fail. October 9, 1940 General de Gaulle arrives in French Equatorial Africa. October 17, 1940 The first of the anti-semi tic laws enacted by the Vichy Government, depriving the French of Jewish race of the right to exercise numerous professions, is published in France. October 22, 1940 Meeting of Pierre Laval with Chancellor Hitler. October 24, 1940 Meeting of Marshal Petain with Chancellor Hitler at Montoire. Marshal Petain accepts the principle of collaboration with Germany. October 27, 1940 General de Gaulle creates the Council for the I eense of the Empire, in Brazzaville, Equatorial Africa. December 13, 1940 Marshal Petain dismisses Pierre Laval. January r, 1941 President Roosevelt sends a New Years message to Marshal Pe tain, wishing for the people of France the restora tion of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. January i, 1941 General de Gaulle asks the French people to re main indoors for one hour of meditation, thus expressing their confidence in an Allied victory. January 5, 1941 The Free French Forces, fighting at the side of General WavelFs army in Lybia, take part in the siege of Bardia. February 10, 1941 Marshal Petain decides that Admiral Darlan shall succeed him if he is unable to exercise his functions. Darlan is appointed Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister. March ir, 1941 Admiral Darlan threatens to use the French navy to convoy the merchant ships carrying food to France, if Great Britain maintains the blockade. March 23, 1941 Mr. Sumner Welles announces that two French ships, the He de Re and the Leopold will carry 13,500 tons of American wheat to unoccupied France. May 23, 1941 In a broadcast to the French people, Admiral Darlan advocates a policy of collaboration with Germany and of partici pation in the New Order...