21 FEBRUARY 1941, Page 5

A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK

EWS which has to go from France to the United States by mail, and then come to England in the American review in iiich it is printed, tends to be rather belated on arrival. But ne story in a most interesting article from Paris in a mid- anuary issue of the New York Nation is still worth quoting, yen though it refers to Armistice Day— the old Armistice ay. After describing how, though Vichy had ordained that ere should be no observance of the anniversary, the people f Paris that evening suddenly and spontaneously marched in serried mass up the Champs Elysees to the tomb of the Tnknown Soldier, the writer continues:

" Suddenly in the tight ranks of men and women a daring group young people, mostly students, pushed through. Each one rried in his hand a long stick such as is used in this country knock nuts from the trees, a gaulle. They thrust the sticks Bove the heads of the crowd, shouting Wive De —! Vive

e —!' -Everyone realised at once that they were crying Vive Gaulle! ' The police tried to reach them. It was impossible. e people crowded together tighter and tighter. The students ere already at the base of the Unknown Soldier's tomb. And ow a great chorus cried Vive De —! ' and raised the gaulles time with their shout. The Gestapo came up in their cars. ey shot into the air. It was too late. Paris had already cele- rated the Armistice by acclaiming the leader of ' Free France' d demonstrating against Hitler."

hat was more than three months ago. French opinion has oval further in the same direction since then.

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