THE DECISIVE SIX MONTHS
FRENCHMAN'S WARNING TO AMERICA
M. Tardieu, tho French High Commissioner to the United States, in a public statement to the American people, after praising the work of the Inter-Allied Conference, said:—
"We are entering the hardest period uf tie-war—the richest in decisive results if we know how to play a good game, but also tho richest in trials,' difficulties, and dangers. A strong German attack is probable, or at least, possible, on the Western front during this winter. lam absolutely confident that it will b? another Verdun. The moral and material condition of the French Army has never been more magnificent. Please believe a man who fought during' tho first two years of war, who knows well his companion* in aims, and who has just met them again. "The British Army is equally superb, and the American Army is increasing day by day. It will bo worthy of your nation and of the enemy's attack. They will not set through.
"But the battle is not only on the battlefield; we have to make for war supplies an enormous economic effort. I have told the French people with complete frankness what the United States expects from, them in the way of restrictions and now sacrifices, and [ have come back to explain here the necessary sacrifices that France and her Allies arc expecting from the United States for victory. You liavo already done much. Nobody knows it, better than I do. Yon have sepn my work for eight, months and you know , that I do not. like delusions or ambiguity or conventional optimism. , "T repeat, because* it is true, tiwt you Americans have to make an enormous and immediate effort to furnish men, wh?at, ships, oil, and locomotives. You are able to give them to u.i only by restricting yourselves severely, and 1 am sure you will pgree to ibis sacrifice if if*is clearly shown to be urnijnt "I tell you the facts as T see them. There are peopie in Franco who renronch me for speaking too brutally. There will bo some hen*, perhaps, who will make tho same enticism. Ido not care. "The heavy war mission with wliwh I am entrusted dops not consist in savin? nlcasant things, but useful things. When I am telling them I can add that I speak with full auHioritv in the name of the chief of the French Government, 51. Olemenceau. In order to come hack here I made the most difficult decision which I have had to malio during my political c.ywr, as I refused to remain in Paris jis a Minister in 3f. Clemerweau's Cabinet. You know that mv wood colleague .and friend, Lord Northcliffe. has done' the same and has refused to enter the British Cabinet. It is because we both believe, in accord with our Governments, that nothing is pore urgent and more necessary than what we am doing here in riirert connection with your illustrious Preside"'; ptul his Government Rut to do it well, above all thinas the truth must |in told .ilwavs and everywhere. _ .. Piely upon me for not failine in this duty, and remember ;>!so that if ths war can last a long while vet, it is dtirinr tlw next six months that its issue will i/O decided
"This is win- from the first <Inv I am nnxious to iiT>on American opinion the obieetivfi and the wsv to it. Now, let us work for victory."
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 6
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572THE DECISIVE SIX MONTHS Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 6
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