FORBIDDEN NEWSPAPER

Patea Mail, 7 May 1941, Page 2

FORBIDDEN NEWSPAPER

UNDER GESTAPO’S NOSE ' ) Somewhere in occupied France, a patriotic, pro-British paper is being printed and circulated under the nose of the Gestapo and the German conquerors (writes Henry Stone). Named after Rabelais’s immortal hero, “Pantagruel, ” is not a mere tract of the kinds distributed from time to time or posted on the walls at night' in various parts of Prance. Those who have the courage to do so publish it under great risks (a . chemist in Paris and one in Versailles wore sentenced to penal servitude for life by a German court martial quite recently for circulating hostile tracts). They requested their readers to pass ‘ ‘Pantagruel ’ ’ round their - friends. Its circulation has to be restricted because of the difficulty in obtaining newsprint. It is published every Aveok wheneAmr possible, printed on four pages ami distributed by every possible means. One method is to send it by post to. people in every district of the country whose addresses uvo found in directories or telephone books. General de Gaulle’s proi igau la stuff did not know' of its existence until this extraordinary little paper was brought to them by someone Avho has just arrived from France. Each issue has a note printed in big letters on the top of the first column, which reads:— “BEWARE This newspaper is not a British tract. Any reader (who may find it possible to find a Avay 'to make it reach Free French people in Britain Avould contribute in giving an ardent stimulant and a precious relief to. those who arc giving their. liAms .for ou.r liberty.” ■ Hero are some quotations from the third issue of “ Pantagruel. ” “Our aim is not opposition or revolt against the authorities of occupation. We know that we lost the Avar and that the Aviso policy is a loyal collaboration, but not a cordial collaboration avith the Germans. “We believe that this policy does not oblige us to sentence General de Gaulle to death and grossly to insult England, our ally. England did not betray us. She remains our ally, and she will be able to save us. Let us not forget that. - > “London has greatly suffered by German air bombing, but the British people are receiving the bloAvs like sportsmen. What the French people must JcnoAV and realise is that the spirit of resistance of the English is intact.” In this third issue of “Pantagruel” (published in October) long quotations of Air. Winston Churchill’s, broadcast to the French nation* are given w r ith this comment: — L . -■ “What be (Churchill) ■ said at - the end—. ‘lf- you cannot help us, at- least don't be an obstacle, for 'us ’ might be.regarded as our slogan. We must respect the signature of the Armistice don’t ask us to be the allies of Germany against Britain. We have the right' to respect and love'-Great Britaiiq and we have the: right , to wish for a British victory.” • ' On the back page was a fierce attack on Laval, then engaged in parleys AvitH Hitler for a separate peace; At the beginning: Hitler showed himself reasonable. Now he wants us to commit an ignominy. He is going to.ask us .to collaborate Avith him against our English allies and friends.' Laval is playing his last card. ■:He has no right to drajg us into that. ,M|| shall.-not do it.” atow