Text:
My friends, who suffer day and night, under
the crushing yoke of the Nazis, I speak to
you as one who was with your Army and Navy
in France in 1918. I have held all my life
the deepest friendship for the French people-
for the entire French people. I retain and
cherish the friendship of hundreds of French
people in France and outside of France. I
know your farms, your villages, and your cities.
I know your soldiers, professors, and workmen.
I know what a precious heritage of the French
people are your homes, your culture, and the
principles of democracy in France. I salute
again and reiterate my faith in Liberty, Equality,
and Fraternity. No two Nations exist which
are more united by historic and mutually friendly
ties than the people of France and the United
States.
Americans, with the assistance of the United
Nations, are striving for their own safe
future as well as the restoration of the
ideals, the liberties, and the democracy
of all those who have lived under the Tricolor.
We come among you to repulse the cruel
invaders who would remove forever your rights
of self-government, your rights to religious
freedom, and your rights to live your own
lives in peace and security.
We come among you solely to defeat and
rout your enemies. Have faith in our words.
We do not want to cause you any harm.
We assure you that once the menace of Germany
and Italy is removed from you, we shall
quit your territory at once.
I am appealing to your realism, to your
self-interest and national ideals.
Do not obstruct, I beg of you, this great
purpose.
Help us where you are able, my friends,
and we shall see again the glorious day
when liberty and peace shall reign again
on earth.
Vive la France eternelle!
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