Transcription: Left side   League affairs at the Quai d'Orsay, gave the most categorical  denial to the rumours. He said that France had no such intention and that furthermore it would be contrary to the general policy being followed by France which was to await developments, to take no initiative whatever in the field of international affairs. This denial was confirmed by a message sent to me a few days later through the French Consul in Geneva. Notification from the Vichy Government has not yet reached me, but French newspapers are reported as containing a reserve to decide later on the question of maintaining relations with the ILO and the technical Institutions attached to the League. I shall have more detailed information before this letter is despatched from French officials who have been at Vichy this week. The general conviction in circles in touch with French opinion is unanimously that the announcement is related first to the development of Admiral Darlan's policy of collaboration and more immediately with the military events in the Balkans and North Africa. On the assumption that France will fulfil her obligations financially during the two years, it could be held that from the point of view of collaboration the situation will not be much changed. The most serious effect is obviously in the political field and more particularly in the repercussions on certain other States. This will be especially the case with regard to Switzerland. We may well see a recurrence of the policy noted during last Autumn. Indeed, I have very good grounds for regarding the coldness, the refusal to maintain close contacts, the pin-pricking and even under-mining of the modus vivendi, as a deliberate policy on the part of the Dépar-  Right side   tement Politique.  In saying so I am not overlooking the difficult position of Switzerland in view of the change in the balance of power in Europe.  The reversal of French policy will I feel sure lead to a weakening of the position of the League in Switzerland and open a new chapter in many respects. 16 May.   Later events & information do not point to a direct German request. Darlan mely prefaced the execution of his pro-German programme, including a visit to th eFuhrer, use of Syrian aerodromes, etc with this beaugeste of cutting with France's bad past! An article by John Elliott from Vichy, "New  York Times" confirms this point of view.

Transcription: Saturday, April 19, 1941. 10.30 a.m. The question of France leaving the League was first hinted last August and my information was that although the question was discussed, it was felt in the Council of Ministers at Vichy that as no request to this effect had been received from Germany, it would be a gesture without usefulness or value. The withdrawal of the French Secretary- General was regarded at the time as adequate and was represented as showing that in the present circumstances France was making no pretension to a commensurate role in international affairs. There were rumours from time to time in the following months (and while they seem reasonably reliable, one must remark on them in reserve) regarding the Vichy attitude which was that no quid pro quo seemed to be offered. About the beginning of December however, serious reports arrived that M. Laval's cabinet had taken a decision in principle to leave the League, but that its application was postponed. There were even rumours from ILO quarters that the intention would be to leave the League and stay in the ILO. In view of the constitutional character of the ILO it seemed to me extremely unlikely as it is and has been regarded by the Axis Powers as equally objectionable in their eyes. Indeed Germany has already set up in Berlin an embryo equivalent of the ILO, has assembled substantial staff and has begun a publication dealing from a totalitarian point of view with the problems interesting labour. About six weeks ago, I took the opportunity offered by a visit of a  French colleague to Vichy to have a sounding made as to rumours of France leaving the League. These rumours had been revived on the occasion of the decision to pay from American reserves the balance of last year's contribution. M. Arnal, Minister Plenipotnetiary who has been for years in charge of

Transcription: Cher Monsieur Lester, En lisant que la France aussi a quitté la Société des Nations et espérant que l'ouragan s'éloigne de plus en plus de nos frontières, mes pensées se tournent denouveau vers Genève et je me demande combien de mes anciens collègues se trouvent-ils bien encore sous votre commendement.  Nous avons passé des jours bien angoissés. A Budapest aussi on a introduit l'obscurcissement, mais depuis hier les rues sont redevenues plus  claires et la Hongrie espère pouvoir rester aussi loin que possible des tourmentes violentes, qui font trembler le monde entier. Souvent on nous reproche,  pourquoi notre politique est-elle si passive dans une certaine direction. A ces reproches nous ne faisons que sourir, car si par exemple un pays tel que la Yougoslavie a succombé en quelques jours, pays qui depuis vingt ans a pu se préparer à cette guerre et dont l'armée bien équipée avait une valeur réelle, toute autre politique du Gouvernement Hongrois n'aurait- elle pas mené le pays vers la ruine certaine? Le traité de Trianon nous a pris toutes nos frontières stratégiques naturelles - une partie nous est revenue ces mois derniers - et ceux qui ont dépécé l'ancienne Monarchie ont bien préparé - certes sans le vouloir - le chemin pour les évenements actuels. Une chose nous étonne toujours: comment se fait-il, que dans certains milieux on soit si peu orientés de ce qui se passe dans les pays de l'Europe centrale et dans les Balkans et que font les diplo-

Transcription: 242 les deux Duvernoy, et Paul. Vous ferez voir au Contrôle le feuillet ci contre. Je vous fais, de plus,  prendre en note par Vancorbeil pour la location d'une loge de troisièmes de face, que je ne puis hélas ! vous offrir ! Vous savez la misère des auteurs à une première. à vous Ch. Gounod Laissez passer « Madame Viardot et cinq personnes » à la répétition générale de Sapho. Jeudi 27 Mars / 84 Ch. Gounod 243 Vendredi Soir 23 Janv. / 85. Chère Pauline A Jeudi 29, donc, puisque, par un malentendu auquel Anna ne comprend rien, vous avez cru que nous vous attendions pour ce jour là. Mille bons souvenirs de votre vieil ami Ch. Gounod 245 dans ce cher et nécessaire repos, loin du chaos d'où je ne sors plus dès que je remets le pied dans Paris, et dans  lequel je rentre le plus tard possible afin de me refaire les provisions de forces dont j'ai besoin - Dites à ces Dames tout mon regret de ne pas répondre à l'honneur qu'elles me font en cette circonstance, et de ne pouvoir donner à ces chères enfants le témoignage de sympathie qu'on voulait bien attendre de moi. Mille bonnes et vieilles amitiés Ch. Gounod 246 Samedi 22 Janv. / 87 - Chère Pauline, Oui, je serai des vôtres Mercredi à dîner ; mais en toute exception, car, vous le savez, je ne dîne plus jamais nulle part. Vous !.. c'est vous. Donc, à vous, et à Mercredi. Ch. Gounod Anna se fait une joie de venir me retrouver -

Description: Hierarchie: Großherzogliches Familienarchiv (Eigentum des Hauses Baden) und Markgräfliches/Großherzogliches Familienarchiv: Nachträge >> Einzelne Angehörige des Hauses Baden >> [13 A] Luise Großherzogin von Baden (1838-1923) >> Familie, Hof, Regierung >> Soziales, Wohltätigkeit >> Badischer Frauenverein >> Geschäftsberichte >> Berichtserien >> Dr. Sophie Sautier [Präsidentin von Abteilung V]

Description: Hierarchie: Großherzogliches Familienarchiv (Eigentum des Hauses Baden) und Markgräfliches/Großherzogliches Familienarchiv: Nachträge >> Einzelne Angehörige des Hauses Baden >> [13 A] Luise Großherzogin von Baden (1838-1923) >> Familie, Hof, Regierung >> Soziales, Wohltätigkeit >> Badischer Frauenverein >> Geschäftsberichte >> Berichtserien >> Dr. Sophie Sautier [Präsidentin von Abteilung V]

Description: Marriage certificate Autograph album || Family brought along just a marriage certificate and an album and drawings.

Description: Hierarchie: Großherzogliches Familienarchiv (Eigentum des Hauses Baden) und Markgräfliches/Großherzogliches Familienarchiv: Nachträge >> Einzelne Angehörige des Hauses Baden >> [13 A] Luise Großherzogin von Baden (1838-1923) >> Familie, Hof, Regierung >> Erziehung, Schulen >> Victoria-Schule und -Pensionat >> Berichtserien >> Emilie Göler von Ravensburg [?-?, Oberin des Viktoria-Pensionats Karlsruhe und der Filiale Baden-Baden 1917-1920/1923]

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Description: Lettres de Charles Gounod