Nirodbaran

Talks with Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1

10 December 1938 – 14 January 1941

5 June 1940

Evening

The radio said that Germany had resumed her attack along the Somme.

Purani: It means her drive towards Paris.

Sri Aurobindo: Yes.

Purani: I hope Weygand has been able to reconstruct the line. He has a heavy work to do.

Sri Aurobindo: Oh yes, a tremendous work.

Purani: If he can drive back the Germans …

Sri Aurobindo: Then he will go down in history as the greatest military leader. If only he can resist them for some months till the French are ready for an offensive, that would be something.

Nirodbaran: Germany has started war against Switzerland also.

Sri Aurobindo: Just the preparation for it.

Purani: I suppose Hitler wants to bring in Italy then and it will be very advantageous to him.

Sri Aurobindo: Yes.

Purani: Italy seems to be vacillating because of the strong American pressure.

Sri Aurobindo: You saw how Bullitt escaped? It is lucky for Hitler. I was wondering what America would have done if Bullitt had been bulletted. He had a double escape, it seems. The bomb did not burst in the restaurant but in the courtyard and it did not hit him.

Nirodbaran: He said that God was with him.

Sri Aurobindo (laughing): I had said he would feel the presence of God. The French have awarded Prioux the Legion d’Honneur. In that case he must have been in Dunkirk. The papers said that it was due to his organisation that the British Army was able to evacuate. Then the German statement that he was taken prisoner long ago must be a myth. The British Government was wise in asking the French Government to escape by aeroplane, while Prioux could not. Such men are worth more than soldiers.

Purani: Duff Cooper was also in Paris during the raid.

Sri Aurobindo: Yes, he was also in a restaurant.

Nirodbaran: Munching bread and butter! (Laughter)

Sri Aurobindo: As the waiters were forbidden to serve the meal during the air raid. Are the waiters not allowed to go and take shelter during the raid?