—Comment Nazis on La Croix Further details of the attack by the German controlled Radio Paris on the famous Catholic pap', La Croix. which was referred to recently in the general press, are to hand.
La Croix. which reflected a growing spirit of independence among the press in unoccupied France, was described in the following Of all the newspapers which have understood nothing. the most hermetically sealed, the most reactionary. the most vilely chauvinistic, the most impervious to new ideas, is undoubtedly the newspaper La Croix.
One cannot even criticise its articles; one can only quote them and smile. The speaker continued: " However. one must not forget that a large part of the Catholic youth considers La Croix as its official organ. and if one reflects on the subject, one wonders what would happen hr 20 years' time if the Catholic youth lent its ear to the watchwords given by the newspaper. La Croix writes: • h is certain that the consequences Of the 1939 war will he harsher for France than were the consequences of the last war for Germany.'
PITILESS CONQUEROR
La Croix had written :— " This time the conqueror is pitiless, and his mysticism helps him to find very useful
accomplices among our compatriots. But renaissance will come in spite of all, for the immense majority of Frenchmen will understand, when the trouble is over, that moral reform is accomplished, one would be very surprised if it did not entail a material rcform as well, and one would even be surprised if it did not entail the rebirth of a military power of sufficient might to command the respect of everybody, and, if necessary, to enable us to reconauer the positions we have lost, without the necessity of using our sword."
The German radio commented:—
" Must we consider such arguments? Must we recall the material and moral distress into which Germany was plunged after 1918? No, of course not, for all this belongs to history, and history belongs to the world. La Croix wants to compel Frenchmen to draw their swords in 20 years' time: that is her own affair. but let her not abuse the patience of a magnanimous conqueror. Let' her not play with the life of French youth. Let her not work against the interests of France, for, in a short while. the soldiers of 1940, who only want to work in peace. might well make her regret it. There are already too many crosses in the cemeteries, and let the newspaper bearing the name of ' The Cross ' not add new crosses in these cemeteries."