M. REYNAUD’S DECLARATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 June 1940, Page 6

M. REYNAUD’S DECLARATION

Brief Comment on Italian Action RESISTANCE TO GERMAN OFFENSIVE ARMIES MANOEUVRING IN RETREAT (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) PARIS, June 10. M. Reynaud, broadcasting, said: “We are ready for the trial we have to face. Our heads will be unbowed. At a moment when France, wounded, but valiant and devoted, is fighting against the hegemony of Germany—when she is fighting for the independence of all other peoples besides her own— Signor Mussolini has chosen to declare war on us. How shall we-judge this act? France has nothing to say. The world will pass judgment. You know the attitude of Italy toward our attempts at rapprochement; also that I publicly followed my predecessor’s example by saying there were no ItalianFrench problems that cannot be solved by friendly negotiation. The highest moral authorities in the world, the Pope and President Roosevelt have repeatedly but vainly tried to prevent this war, which is opposed to all Christian ideals and to human solidarity. Signor Mussolini has decided that blood must.flow. What was the pretext for this decision? When our Ambassador asked this question, Count Ciano replied that Signor Mussolini was only carrying out his promises to Hitler. The same declaration was addressed to Britain.

“Hostilities are beginning at midnight tonight and force will now speak. The Allies are strong in the Mediterranean, even more than elsewhere. France enters this war with a pure conscience. For her this is not a mere word. The world perhaps soon will know that moral force provides great strength. France has survived even severer trials in her long and glorious history. France cannot die.’’ M. Reynaud earlier declared that the French armies were retreating slowly and had only abandoned strong points after inflicting cruel losses on the enemy. The war was no longer a war of continuous fronts, but a war of strong points, grouped in depth. “Our armies,’’ he said, “are manoeuvring in retreat. ’ ’