LOYAL TO BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 11

LOYAL TO BRITAIN.

French Canadians Would Never

Help Fascists.

MAYOR RAISES STORM.

(Received 2 p.m.)

MONTREAL, February 8.

French Canadians are seething with indignation over an address by Mayor Hondo, of Montreal, before the Y.M.C.A., declaring the French Canadians "by blood, if not by name, are Fascists and would side with Italy in the event of war between Britain and Italy." Mr. Houde alleged that French Canadians have been traditionally under dictators from Louis XIV. and Richelieu to Laurier, and argued that the Pope was Italian and Quebec Roman Catholic, hence French Canadians must aid Italy. Th?re was an immediate wave of protests. Najmleon Courtmanche, Mavor of Quebec City, quoted the pioneer Canadian statesman, Tache, as saying: "The gun fired in defence of Canada for the Empire will be by a French Canadian." Adrian Arcand, leader of the National Socialist, reputed Fascist, party, declared: "Quebec would be solidly behind Britain if attacked by Italy." Monsignor Gauthier, representing the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Montreal, termed the statement as too funny for comment. Mr. Thomas Vien, M.P., stated that French Canadians, as long as Canada remains part of .the Empire, will never side with an enemy of Britain.