Andre Bettencourt repeats apology for 50-year old writing and details history of his French Resistance activities.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 21, 1995-- Statement: Andre Bettencourt Repeats Apology for 50-Year Old Writing And Details History of His French Resistance Activities In response to questions raised about his activities over half a century ago, Mr. Andre Bettencourt has stated, "My activities in the French Resistance, together with my political career, are a clear demonstration that I was aware of the errors I had made in writing the several articles that are the subject of criticism today. I have repeatedly expressed my regrets concerning them in public and will always beg the Jewish community to forgive me for them." In addition, in the attached statement Mr. Bettencourt also details the record of his participation in the French Resistance for which he was recognized with French government honors. -0- From M. Andre Bettencourt My activities in the French Resistance, together with my political career, are a clear demonstration that I was aware of the errors I had made in writing the several articles that are the subject of criticism today. I have repeatedly expressed my regrets concerning them in public and will always beg the Jewish community to forgive me for them. At the same time, I am totally incensed at the content of stories which have appeared in the French press over the past few days concerning articles which I wrote over 50 years ago as well as my activities in the Resistance. They are inspired by a disgruntled dis·grun·tle tr.v. dis·grun·tled, dis·grun·tling, dis·grun·tles To make discontented. [dis- + gruntle, to grumble (from Middle English gruntelen; see former investor in a business venture with L'Oreal who is engaged in multi-million dollar litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. against L'Oreal. I have never denied writing these articles. It has long been known that they existed and I have often publicly expressed my sincere regret at having written them. As far as the attempts to belittle be·lit·tle tr.v. be·lit·tled, be·lit·tling, be·lit·tles 1. To represent or speak of as contemptibly small or unimportant; disparage: a person who belittled our efforts to do the job right. my activities in the Resistance are concerned, I feel that I should make the following points clear: 1. I made my first contact with the Resistance towards the end of 1942 and became a member of a network, the "National Movement of Deportees and Prisoners of War prisoners of war, in international law, persons captured by a belligerent while fighting in the military. International law includes rules on the treatment of prisoners of war but extends protection only to combatants. " ("MNPGD") to which several of my young war-time friends also belonged. 2. I was arrested by the Gestapo in Nancy in 1943 and held in the Charles III Charles III, king of Naples Charles III (Charles of Durazzo), 1345–86, king of Naples (1381–86) and, as Charles II, of Hungary (1385–86); great-grandson of Charles II of Naples. prison. I was kept in solitary confinement solitary confinement n. the placement of a prisoner in a Federal or state prison in a cell away from other prisoners, usually as a form of internal penal discipline, but occasionally to protect the convict from other prisoners or to prevent the prisoner from causing and interrogated for several weeks. I was freed with the help of Mlle. Francois, heroine of the Resistance. 3. I was subsequently nominated to the Delegation for the Resistance in Geneva Geneva, canton and city, Switzerland Geneva (jənē`və), Fr. Genève, canton (1990 pop. 373,019), 109 sq mi (282 sq km), SW Switzerland, surrounding the southwest tip of the Lake of Geneva. . Using the pseudonym pseudonym (s  `dənĭm) [Gr.,=false name], name assumed, particularly by writers, to conceal identity. A writer's pseudonym is also referred to as a nom de plume (pen name). of "Grainville," I acted on behalf of the MNPGD and was in contact with members of the English and American secret services, in particular Allen Dulles and Max Shoop, members of the OSS Oss (ôs), city (1994 pop. 62,141), North Brabant prov., S Netherlands; chartered 1399. It is a significant industrial center. Manufactures include meat products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, and metalware. . 4. I returned to France after the Allied landings in the south of France South of France south n the South of France → le Sud de la France, le Midi and I crossed the frontier with the help of Allen Dulles and accompanied by him. 5. I was awarded the Resistance Rosetto and the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 for my activities during the Second World War. 6. Contrary to what has been said in various articles, some of my activities in the Resistance were mentioned in the book "History of the Creation and Activities of the National Prisoners of War Movement" (RNPG) by Jacques Benet, as well as in a secret and declassified de·clas·si·fy tr.v. de·clas·si·fied, de·clas·si·fy·ing, de·clas·si·fies To remove official security classification from (a document). de·clas telegram dated August 9th, 1944 from Allen Dulles (110) to William Donovan (109) held in the National Archives in Washington. 7. I began my political career after the war. In 1946, I was elected General Counselor of the Lillebonne canton in Normandy. In 1951, I was elected Depute de·pute tr.v. de·put·ed, de·put·ing, de·putes 1. To appoint or authorize as an agent or a representative. 2. To assign (authority or duties) to another; delegate. of the Seine-maritime Department and repeatedly re-elected as Depute and then a Senator. During my early election campaign, I apologized for the articles in question. 8. In 1954, President Pierre Mendes-France appointed me Secretary of State to the Council Presidency in his government and then as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was fully aware of my activities during the war and the earlier articles which we had talked about, and always maintained his confidence in me and his friendship. 9. Under the Presidency of General de Gaulle, I served as Minister in various Cabinets under Georges Pompidou and Maurice Couve de Murville from 1966 to 69. From 1969 to 73, under the Presidency of Georges Pompidou, I held various Ministerial posts in the Government of Jacques Chaban-Delmas and Pierre Messmer. 10. During a private visit to Israel, I was personally received by Mrs. Golda Meir, then the Prime Minister. In 1973, I attended President David Ben-Gurion's funeral as French Government Representative. Andre Bettencourt February 21, 1995 CONTACT: Kate McDonough 212/334-0033 |
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