Following is the text of de Gaulle's luncheon remarks Fri-dly:~"
"first of all, I'd like to thank the distinguished personalities wh6 took the floor before me.
"First of all, I want to thank those people who were kind enough to speak here, to welcome me, and to express their kind feelings to warm me:
Dr. Homer Dupuy, president of the reception committee; Mr. Leon Sarpy, president of the banquet committee and master of ceremonies; Dr. T. ,J. Arceneaux, whom I listened to with great emotion as he spoke in behalf of the Acadians; Mr. James Bezou, president of TAthenee Louisianais, whose name we know in France and whom I was very happy to meet here; the Hon. Earl K. ^Lorig, governor of Louisiana, x^ho unfortunately left before thie^end of the luncheon, but to whom I want to say how much I appreciated his kind words, and finally to the Hon. deLes-seps S. Morrison, mayor of New Orleans, to whom, once again, I want to give my thanks for what he has said.
'WONDERFUL WELCOME'
"Soon, in a few hours, I shall leave the soil of the United States. I d6 not believe that my short visit to the U. S. could have been ended in a more moving fashion than it has been by the wonderful welcome given me in New Orleans.
"The magnificent ceremonies
which were held at, the Place
d'Armes,,in St. Louis Cathedral,
al the Bienville Monument, at
Hall, at this luncheon at
i we are now gathered
and, above all, the splendid
welcome of the people, have
clearly shown how many and
w deep are the reasons why
in New Orleans and its en-
s on the one hand, and in
France on the other, we have
for; understanding and liking
each other do not wish to allude here to the political talks that I have had with the President and with the administration of the United States. But I want to say, before leaving, what an impression has been left on me by my rapid contacts with your great country. (First of all, what struck impressed me was the .ence and the depth of o-Ameriean friendship.
There is something very fundamental in this, which doubtless, in ordinary times, could have only practical, limited effects, but which, under grave circumstances, would cause us to unite in an invincible manner as we have done in times past.
'REGIME OF LIBERTY'
"And then in seeing you I have become aware still more clearly of the truly superior value of the regime of liberty, from the moment that it makes possible over-all planning, provided that it abides by set rules and provided that it implies authority—in short, that'it subordinates itself to the general interest. In that case, the regime of liberty produces, from the economic point of view and in the social field, the best possible results
"Doubtless you Americans have the advantage of living in a very large country with tremendous resources; you have not experienced invasions and for almost 100 years you have had no revolutions.
"But it is none the less true that under the regime in which you live you are constantly developing and that moreover each of you gives proof of the enthusiasm for life of a propensity for effort and of a confidence that cannot fail to strike us. 'VALUE OF LIBERTY'
"Thus I shall leave the United States taking with me more vivid than ever the sentiments that I feel and that France feels for you.
"I shall leave it more convinced than before, if that were possible, of the value of liberty and of the fact that our common cause in the world—which is, beyond liberty, the cause of the dignity of man—is no doubt the best cause.
"And finally, I shall leave convinced that'all that is necessary is for the free people to be firm, for them to be wise, and for them to be united in order for the world *to be led along the path of common sense and of peace.
"Long live the United States; friend and ally of France!
' 'Long live the union of free peoples!"
