Paris, Sept, 10, 66YY7E_will win because we are the stronger," M. Paul Reynaud, the Finance Minister, told the French nation in a broadcast tonight when he reviewed the heartening financial and economic situation in France.
He pointed out that in 1918, the Kaiser's Reich was defeated by the superior war resources of the Allies.
"That superiority still exists, and is perhaps even greater today, "There is the military front, which is of vital importance, Reynaud explained.
But behind it, there is the economic, financial and monetary front, whose importance is also vital. Germany is already to a large extent exhausted by the gigantic effort made in her preparation for war, Economically and financially, Germany is now most vulnerable—and on that front, she has no fresh troops.
As for us, we begin the war under far superior financial and economic conditions. since last year, our production has increased considerably and our gold reserve has been augmented by nearly thirty per cent, during the last few months, "The Bank of France has twice as many tons of gold as it had in August, 1914, and I do not mention the reserves of the Exchange Equalization Fund or the foreign bills which belong to private citizens. These tons we avert and French lives that of gold are days of fighting that, we save."
'M, Reynaud also pointed out that while in 1014, banks paid out only BO. franes every two weeks Individual accounts, current oF sav~ ngs, today. all banks paid out, the full' amounts requested, Patriotism was amply demonstrated in that uring the Arst week of the Buropean "War, withdrawals from banks Dractically' ceased while' subscriptions armament bonds totalled the huge sum of Irs, 1,600,000,000, The Importance of "an economic and financial plan of battle for war ime," was emphasized by the Finance Minister. "AIL must be mobile ized for the country's defence and, the same time, a minimum of harmal economic activity must be maintained.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.