Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1963)

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(km The rain beat down mercilessly on the border between Monte Carlo and Beausoleil. It was midnight, October 12th. Suddenly, out of the night, the roar of engines cracked the eerie stillness. This was the might of the Fifth French Republic rumbling into strategic position on the border separating France and Monaco. Word spread like wildfire in the famed gambling casino. In minutes, hundreds of Monegasque citizens and visitors slipped on their raincoats, opened their umbrellas and hurried through the drenching outpour to see if the reports were true. Had France truly sealed off the border? Mais oui! Indeed, it was true! The strength of French president Charles de Gaulle had at last asserted itself. Monaco was isolated from France! The crisis had come, descending in the classic European manner — at midnight! The show of force was terrifying. Monegasques gasped in abject horror at the five huge motorized units that were driven up the narrow street of Beausoleil and halted at the very doorstep of the tiny principality. It is true, the vehicles were not tanks. Nor were they some new and fearsome form of military equipment. Yet Monaco’s citizens could not have been more alarmed if France had indeed brought such weapons to that front. Actually, the motorized units were nothing more than house trailers. The blue uniformed men inside them were not soldiers — but custom guards. A mighty contingent of six! And they had come fully armed — with custom forms! Mon Dieu! The gathering of Monegasques at the border stood in stony silence and gazed incredulously as one of the guards trudged to the middle of the rain-splashed street and posted a sign. It read: “HALT! CUSTOMS!” At last the hour dreaded by Monacq’s 22,000 residents had arrived. The French Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs had thrown up its threatened customs barrier around tiny Monaco. ( Continued on page 70 )