FRANCE ASKS FOR AID

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 5

FRANCE ASKS FOR AID

APPEAL MADE BY M. REYNAUD

MESSAGE SENT TO MR ROOSEVELT

ADVANCE GUARD OF FREE MEN (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 14, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 13. The French Prime Minister (M. Paul Reynaud) addressed a last appeal for assistance to the President of the United States of America (Mr Franklin D. Roosevelt) in a broadcast address on Thursday night.

“Amidst our misfortunes we must emphasize again and again the heroism of the French Army and people,” M. Reynaud said. “France’s spirit cannot be broken by invasion. All free men must now know that the moment has come for preventing Herr Hitler from succeeding. The French Army was only the advance guard of the world’s free men but, in losing this battle, we have inflicted great losses and have greatly damaged the enemy’s morale.

“We know the world’s admiration for France, but now France has the right to turn round and say to the other democracies ‘lt is your turn now.’ I have repeatedly asked President Roosevelt to send to the Allies all possible legal help. Today I have finally appealed to him. There is no longer time for halfhearted measures. The struggle continues for France’s very life. The hardships of battle are increasing daily but we increasingly hope for the common victory of democracy.” WORTHY OF TRADITIONS “We may hope the day is near when the evil forces will be beaten. That is why we want France to preserve free Government. That is why we left Paris so Hitler could not seize the only legal Government in France and institute a puppet government as he tried to do in other places. In the great test ahead we shall show ourselves worthy of our past traditions. The French know how to suffer. Let them be worthy of their history. Let them be full of courage. Let them be brotherly. “The Fatherland is wounded, but the day of resurrection will come. It is necessary for clouds of aeroplanes to come from America in order to crush the power which is crushing Europe. “We know what place ideals hold in the life of the American people. Will they still hesitate to declare themselves against Nazi Germany? France’s soul is unbeaten and our hearts continue to hope.”

It is understood the Council of Ministers decided to continue the resistance to the utmost. The council approved the text of M. Reynaud’s broadcast. The French official spokesman stated that one reason why M. Reynaud appealed to Mr Roosevelt for help is the French shortage of tanks, which only a small number are able to support the infantry, sometimes none at all. The French troops resisting the enemy have not been relieved since the Somme offensive. They have been unable to launch large scale counter-attacks because of the enemy’s numerical and material superiority. Nevertheless, small forces of French infantry, displaying a magnificent spirit, made counter-at-tacks, always succeeding in extricating troops from dangerous positions and allowing the line to faff back. The Allied air forces continue to bring down three or four German aeroplanes to one Allied aeroplane.

MR ROOSEVELT’S REPLY Mr Roosevelt, replying to M. Reynaud, said the United States was doing everything possible to place its material resources behind the Allies. Early in his statement he said: “The text of M. Reynaud’s statement has not been received, but everything possible _ is being done to forward supplies to France.” Beyond this he made no comment. M. Reynaud’s description of the position in his message to Mr Roosevelt as one of “mortal danger” will, says a correspondent in Paris, be easily understood when it is realized that most of the units now withdrawn along the Seine, Oise, Aisne and Montmedy line had been fighting continuously ever since the battle of the Somme against an enemy who had been relieved two or three times. In view of the relative freshness of the German troops and the vast numerical superiority in tanks the French have been unable to launch any large-scale counter-attacks. It has been suggested by a Paris spokesman that this deficiency in tanks was one of the reasons which moved M.

Reynaud to make his appeal to Mr Roosevelt on Tuesday. Meanwhile in Britain all available troops and material are being sent to help the gallant French ally. A message from Washington states that Mr Roosevelt’s secretary, Mr Stephen Early, said that Mr Roosevelt’s speech on Tuesday completely answered M. Reynaud’s first request, which was delivered to the State Department after Mr Roosevelt’s return from Charlotteville. Thus it was only a coincidence that the address was so completely to the point.