avenge them
tomorrow! A nation which can arouse such enthusiasm can never perish.

Sheltered by this heroism the nation has lived and labored, accepting
all the consequences of the war, and domestic tranquillity has never
been troubled.

The Minister of Finance has laid before you in a masterly statement
the financial situation and has explained the resources that we have
obtained from the issue of Treasury bonds and advances from the Bank
of France, which have enabled us to bear the expenditure imposed by
the war, so that we have not had any need to resort to a loan. The
Bank of France is in a position, thanks to its excellent condition, to
furnish resources to the Treasury and to aid in the resumption of the
economic life of the country.

Everything serves to demonstrate the vitality of France, the security
of her credit, the confidence which she inspires in all, despite the
war which is shaking and impoverishing the world. The state of her
finances is such that she can continue the war until the day when the
necessary reparation has been obtained.

Gentlemen, it is not sufficient for us to salute the victims who have
fallen on the field of battle. We must uncover also before the civil
non-combatants and innocent victims who up to now have been protected
by the laws of war, but whom, in order to terrify a nation which is
and will ever remain unshaken, the enemy either captured or massacred.
The Government has done its duty toward their families, but the debt
of the country is not yet discharged.

Under the force of invasion, departments have been occupied and the
ruins in them have accumulated. The Government solemnly undertakes
before you--it has already partly carried it out, and has asked for a
first credit of $70,000,000--that France will rebuild again those
ruins, and the carrying out of this work will certainly be borne in
mind in the indemnities which we shall exact.

The day of a definite victory has not yet come. Our task until then
will be heavy, and it may be long. Let us bring all our strength to
bear in the carrying out of this task. Our allies know that we will do
so, as well as the neutral nations, and it is in vain that a wild
campaign of false news has been set on foot. If Germany at the outset
pretended to have any doubt as to the attitude of France, she no
longer doubts.

Let Germany bear witness now that when the French Parliament reopened
after over four months of war, it has renewed bef