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THE RABBITS, THE PLANTAGE, THE CHAPEL, AND THE WOMEN 26 A few days ago an embarrassing situation was brought to the attention of the IPC at its meeting of May 7. The presiding officer , Arthur Haulot, explains the situation: French agitation in the camp. . . can no longer be tolerated . Yesterday, Sunday, a French officer came to Dr. Blaha and demanded that he take five sick Frenchmen to the hospital. This [was] impossible, the hospital being filled [and the admission officers] being off duty. Later he came again and demanded [that] more Frenchmen be [admitted ]. Once and for all, it must be stated that we, here in this camp, do not receive orders other than those issued by the camp authorities. The hospital [employees] are working with the utmost intensity. During only one week more than 2,000 sick have been taken to the hospital. Those who [take care of the patients] have scarcely time to sleep a few hours. Dr. Blaha states that the same thing happened again an hour ago. French officers arrived and demanded the acceptance of quite a number of Frenchmen into the hospital. He told a French doctor to examine them, but the doctor found only five of them sick. Thus, if they demand acceptance of healthy people into the hospital when there is no room for the sick, the French may build their own hospital where they can accept as many Frenchmen as they like. But as long as we have a common hospital, all nations must be on the same level. Another incident occurred when the Red Cross packages arrived . Our French drivers, their trucks filled with the packages, I 189 stopped first at the barracks of their countrymen: Lieutenant Chaudon speedily halted this unauthorized dispensation. Furthermore, a small number of French inmates have been spirited away from the camp by some of their "outside" representatives who seem unconcerned about the quarantine. On reflection, I think that, proportionately, there are as many uncooperative Frenchmen as other nationals, but the French are more irritating because they feel their grievances more keenly and state them more colorfully and with greater frequency than the others. The increased demand for special privileges by all the groups seems to parallel their awareness of their new status -they are no longer wretched nonentities but citizens of important countries. There is one exception. I hear that the Dutch have made no demands, seemingly satisfied to bask in the sunshine of freedom. To express their gratitude, they bring flowers to our office every day. (For many years after the war, one of the Dutch internees regularly sent daffodil and tulip bulbs to Corporal Ferris.) We are told of another side to the Gallic character. Before liberation, there were very few prisoners who shared the contents of their Red Cross packages with those who did not receive them. We hear that the few who did were some of the French, not only generous with their scraps of food, but with their quarters; despite the overcrowding, those with no place to eat could enter their barracks. Because Hitler had repeatedly preached that the French were the natural unswerving enemies of the German people, they were singled out for particularly degrading treatment in the camps. The Nazi guards called them "Dogs." At other camps, they were required to wear the letters "HN," indicating that they came from a country of dogs. In view of this, it seems inconceivable that when the worst conditions prevailed, the French were willing to help others. True generosity is an uncommon quality of the human spirit. I have decided that if I am ever in serious trouble, it would be comforting, -and perhaps lifesaving, to have them nearby. Today I have forgotten my resolution! Periodically our quarters have been ransacked and personal property stolen. Today, when I return to my room, I find that 190 I The Turning Point my duffel bag is missing, taken some time in the afternoon, according to a French DP who works for us. A Frenchman with a moustache took it with him, she says. Perhaps one of the drivers . She elaborates a little, but no one is sure if he took it or if she has a grudge against him. Who knows? Coincidentally, some of our French associates left the camp at 2 :00 P.M. for a visit to Austria. My course seems clear. Cherchez /'homme! After obtaining passes, Mace fills a Mercedes convertible, one of our recently acquired vehicles, with gas, and...

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