TO AID THE FRENCH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 3

TO AID THE FRENCH

INDIGNATION AT TilE OPPOSITION

"WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT!'

STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN BARCLAY

Thi) spirit of opposition which was manifested in statements made at Tuesday's meeting in tho Tuivn Hull to the JiVoposal of the Ccrcele Francais and kindred bodies throughout New Zealand to raise money to aid tliu French in their several activities contingent upon the war was the subject of discussion in many quarters yesterday. In the course of a statement made to a Dominion reporter yesterday, Captain Barclay, president of the (.'ercla Francais, said:— "One question asked at tiie meeting was: 'Where was the Ccrcele Francais?' 1 should like to say in answer to that question that the cercle was represented at the meeting Dy tlie patron and hon. president (Mr. James Macintosh), who as Consular-Agent here represented in his person our glorious Ally, France. I was there ,is president, Mr. Laity as vicepresident, and Mrs. Seville was there representing the committee. So that tho Cercle Francais, a body of elevon years' standing, was duly and officially represented. Our secretary (Mr. Cook) would also have been present but foiji the regrettable fact that he was confined to his bed through indisposition." Asked as to what was the intention in view of what had been said, and in the face of the letter of the Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), Captain Barclay said: "We are going to fight! It is not for nie, as president of the cerole, to dictate, but 1 do not think that the 80,000 people in Wellington are going to be led by the, nose by a clique. If it is imagined that the effort on the paifc of the Cercle Francais and sympathisers is going to encroach in any way on other organisations that, are doing excellent patriotic work, the answer is that wo only ask their co-operation and sympathy on two days—July 13 and 15. July 11—the National Fete Day of the French —falls on a Sunday, and on that day we intend to ask the churches to express their sympathy with the movement, as we recognise as binding that we should justify our faith by our works."

"I should like, to say," continued Captain Barclay, "that I find it impossible to express iu anything like adequate language the hot indignation I feel over the p.tl'iont which has been offered everyone who has even the most elementary knowledge of French character, French devotion and self-sacrifice, the silent submission to injury, suffering, and hardship when it is for "la Patrie"—a people loyal to the core, a people who have furnished civilisation with a literature, the highest standard of intelligence, delicacy, and politeness—all that civilisation holds most dear—and Ido not fancy that the affront will bo readily forgotien by those who feel for France. And to think that this affront should have had its genesis iu that inexplicable letter from Sir James Allen, whilst ActingPrime Minister, is staggering to mo, and certainly puzzling to every right-think-mg person who is aware of tho agony find travail through which our noble Ally, France, is passing.

"We have waited a long time to do something for France, and on more than one occasion have held our hands in order that some other effort could go forward without distraction, and we are, on that account, all 'the more hurt that we should find discouragement where we were entitled to look for and expod enthusiastic help from everyone."

The Mayor acknowledges the "nm if ;ClO3 3s. from the following:—Wellington College Patriotic Fund, iSO; Mr. mid Mre. J. P. Firth, .£SO; Sir. and ilrs. von Haast, .£3 3s.