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Show Courage Explains Empire The memoirs of Paul Reynaud, the war premier of France, gives testimony to the courage of Winston Churchill and largely explains why the British Empire has been able to endure so long. In the latter part of May, 1940, when "the position of our encir-clled encir-clled armies was already very serious," the entry of Italy into the war was expected and military mili-tary advisers thought it would be fatal. Under the circumstances, the French thought it advisable to consider making certain concessions con-cessions "to satisfy Italian vanity" van-ity" and keep Italy out of war. Mr. Chuchill, according to Premier Pre-mier Reynaud, was hostile "to any concessions" and subse-qeuntly subse-qeuntly telegraphed to Paris: "I am convinced that our rcr.l security se-curity rests on our fighting capacity." ca-pacity." Subsequently, when conditions became more threatening to the armies of France, the French Government again considered concessions to Rome. The proposal pro-posal was telegraphed to London and, in reply, the British Government Govern-ment revealed that it would not oppose submission of the proposal pro-posal to Italy ir the French felt they had come to such a pass, but the British cfovernment refused re-fused "to be associated with it in any shape or form" and expressed ex-pressed the opinion that the offer would only stimulate the Italian Government by revealing allied distress. Thereupon, the plan was a-bandoned. |
