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Show New Unity Given French As U. S. Pledges Its Aid State Department Declaration Gives Added Hope to Struggling People in Resisting Resist-ing Nazi Oppression. By BAUKHAGE News Analyst and Commentator. WXU Features, 1343 H Street, N. W. Washington, D. C. Half way between July 4, America's Amer-ica's Independence day, and July 14, the anniversary of the acceptance accept-ance of the French constitution, there falls a date that some day may be celebrated as a milestone in Franco-American history. On July 9, 1942, the United States government in a cautiously worded statement "recognized" what was described as "the Contribution of General de Gaulle and the work of the French National Committee in keeping alive the spirit of French traditions and institutions." The announcement made by Secretary of State Hull pledged "the lending of all possible military mili-tary assistance to the French National committee as a symbol of French resistance in general against the Axis powers." The important phrase in that sentence, sen-tence, perhaps in the whole document, docu-ment, is "resistance in general." Packed into those three words is the picture of a group of men who until July 9 had been carrying on one of the most tragic struggles in the history of France, carrying it on without much help or hope from the Allies. New life, new hope began be-gan for the French forces of "resistance" "re-sistance" against Germany. It brought new unity to a movement move-ment of French patriots scattered over the face of the earth. Few people realized it, but this guarded action of the state department probably laid the first solid paving stone in the road that will one day lead to Berlin. Of course, very little can be said of what the "Free French" movement move-ment means where it is vitally important im-portant within France. But it is claimed that an almost perfect intelligence system is now operating within France. The Germans Ger-mans know that what they do and frequently what they plan cannot be concealed from the French if it takes place in France. "' Immediately after the fall of France, Frenchmen spontaneously began "resistance." That resistance resist-ance has now been definitely organized or-ganized and is directed from London Lon-don by De Gaulle although groups in France work in separate channels. chan-nels. There are three main organizations: organ-izations: Liberation Francais; Combat; Com-bat; and Frenc-Tireurs. The first form of "resistance"- to the Germans was the appearance of little printed labels on walls, on automobiles, on boxes and lamp posts. Just short messages attacking attack-ing the Germans, calling for resistance. resist-ance. Then the courageous met and found ways and means to help each other or help agents of the Allies co thwart the Germans. The more aggressive began to steal dynamite and blow up shops and railways. Labor Unions Unified By this time General De Gaulle bad gathered about him leaders and organizers. They were soon able to get in and out of France and the organization work began. I am informed that for the first time in history the French labor unions have become unified uni-fied and are working together solidly. The old socialist party has been reformed, the old leaders lead-ers have been displaced and the group bears the name of the young socialist party. Naturally the communists are now cooperating co-operating fully. The "resistance" inside France is carried on by groups and individuals individu-als of every social and political stratum. Even the recognition of the Free French as the de facto governors of the Pacific islands, African possessions posses-sions and the islands of Pierre and St. Miquelon off Newfoundland still left the Free French movement as a whole, outside the pale of cooperation. co-operation. All this time the representatives repre-sentatives of Vichy remained in their embassy in Washington but the representatives of the National Committee (Free French) took headquarters in an office building. Indirectly they were aided financially financial-ly because an arrangement was made whereby American lease-lend supplies furnished to Great Britain could, at the discretion of the English, Eng-lish, be advanced to the Free French. But the French movement lacked moral support, the organization organiza-tion within France still felt that it was working with little British support sup-port and almost none from the United Unit-ed States. In fact we seemed to be playing ball with the other side the Vichy side. The preparation for the invasion inva-sion of France has now begun with new zeal. The Free French have complete plans under way for establishing civilian government in territory which will be occupied by the Allied forces. This is essential for when the invasion comes a certain amount of chaos is expected at first and cooperation between an invading force and the civilian population is essential. Organization for this cooperation co-operation is beginning. The United States government did not recognize General De Gaulle as the head of the French state. But according to representatives of Free France in Washington the official recognition of their group as "the symbol" of "resistance in general" was a powerful forward step in giving giv-ing new sinews to the effective Allies Al-lies of the United Nations inside France, paving the way for a successful suc-cessful opening of the second front It brings the first real hope since the fall of France for the rebirth of the nation. Easier Now to Look Backward, Not Forward Perhaps because a person can't look very far ahead these turbulent days a lot of people are beginning to look backward. At least that is the opinion of Conklin Mann, who recently re-cently traced the geneology of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill back to a common ances- tor who came over on the Mayflower and then discovered that General MacArthur was related to both of them. Mann was in Washington recently and he had a number of interesting things to say about family trees. He is really an advertising man but his hobby has made him an expert and he is now the editor of the "Record," published by the New York State Geneological society. "The United States has always al-ways been pedigree conscious about its cattle, horses, pets and virtually all growing crops," Mann said to me, "Now, the war is making us pedigree-conscious pedigree-conscious about ourselves. With countries and peoples involved in the struggle or seriously affected af-fected by it, the whole country is 'root conscious.' " Mann believes that the reason for the renewed interest in the subject of geneology is that the stupendous" turmoil through which the world is going has sent people back to fundamentals funda-mentals and, he says: "All roots are fundamentals." "Just having lived in this country a lot of generations doesn't make a. man an American," said Mann. "Two great influences have made America what it is today. "One is a philosophy of life that we define as the American Way a broad, liberal, generous policy of freedom of thought and action for the individual. The second thing is the flesh and blood men and women who have had the stamina to build up and defend the American Way. "An American in the true sense of the word is anybody who understands under-stands the American Way, lives by it and supports it with his full energy and life." "Establishment of the blood relationship rela-tionship of Churchill and Roosevelt," says Mann, "makes the characters charac-ters themselves that much more interesting in-teresting and bringing to light details de-tails of their family history makes the nation's history that much richer. "And now comes the added discovery dis-covery that the popular hero, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, though a third generation Scot in family name, is also related to both Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill through his New England born grandmother." Personally I agree with Mr. Mann. Geneology is a good thing if we don't take the part it has to do with ourselves too seriously. |
