Free French Pledge Overthrow of Anti-jewish Laws

In connection with the intensification of anti-Jewish laws in France and the declarations of Vichy’s Commissar for Jewish Affairs, Xavier Vallat, the J.T.A. has sought the reaction of leaders of Gen. Charles de Gaulle’s Free French movement. Prof. Rane Cassin, permanent secretary of the council, and Maurice de Jean, director of the Free French movement, stated today:

“De Gaulle himself has several times stated that not only the Jewish laws but all Vichy laws are not recognized by the Free French movement. For us Free Frenchmen the Jewish question falls into two parts–firstly, the question as affecting the French Jews; secondly, the world Jewish question.

“Firstly, we consider all Frenchmen, whether Catholics, Protestants or Jews, as equal. We fought for centuries and more than once have arisen in revolt to obtain the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The spirit of Abbe Gregoire, Mirabeau, Clermont and Tonerre is unchanged in us, but, not going as far back as the Revolution, in our days Cardinal Verdier, the pride of Catholicism, until the moment of his death preached most bitterly against all racial doctrines.

“Frenchmen of the Jewish religion for centuries, and particularly during this and the last war, have given the best proof of their loyalty and patriotism, both on the firing line and elsewhere. Many foreign Jews living in France volunteered and have given ample proof of their devotion and heroism. The Jews of Alsace-Lorraine, despite the greatest sacrifices, have always demonstrated their attachment to France. We should not forget that in 1870 the majority of Jews in Alsace opted for French nationality and those remained in Alsace and always stood for the French spirit in that country. During this war it is the same. Hence the first people singled out in Alsace were the Jews.

“Anti-Semitism always has been, still is and always will be foreign to the French spirit, despite the Vichy ‘collaborators.’ We are firmly convinced that as soon as victory comes, the present sufferings and discriminations against the Jews will cease. All the news we receive from France proves that in this respect, as in many others, it is we who express the sincere and real feelings of the French people. With the victory of the Allies and the liberation of France the motto, ‘Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,’ will be reestablished.

“Secondly, as to the general Jewish question, we are hoping for the liberation of oppressed peoples so that they may regain their rights as human beings and citizens of their own countries. Therefore, we certainly fight for the right of the Jews to their self-determination wherever they may be.”