Evening star., 1944-06-16
Diplomatic Secrecy
In De GouIIe Case Hit
Finger of Suspicion Pointed
At White House, Says Observer
Bp David Laurence

by Dapfd Laurence
Friction between Gen. de Gaulle ana
the Allied governments comes at de-
plorable time-just when Gen. Eisen-
hover Is in the middle Of the most crit.
ical phases Of the invasion.
The problem has been drifting along
without solution for some time. Instead
of treating 1t openly and laying all the
cards on the table, diplomacy has seen
at to cloak the whole thing in mystery.
The impression has been given that
President Roosevelt personally dislikes
Gen de Gaulle and that that's why the
De Gaullists have not been recognized
as provisional government OF France.
Such a reason sounds fantastic and
incredible.
But for weeks and weeks left-wing
sympathizers and supporters Of the De
Gaulle movement, both In the United
States and Britain, have constantly
pointed the finger Of suspicion at the
White House. Intimations In the Brit
ish press have been given to the effect
that Prime Minister Churchill may be
friendly to Gen. de Gaulle, but that he
does not wish to go counter to the wishes
of President Roosevelt. All this sounds
like an excuse and not a reason.
Clash Of Personalities.
Underneath the whole De Gaulle trou-
BILE unquestionably is clash Of per-
sonalities. This was first made evident
at the Casablanca conference. Just a
mere clash of personalities would not
suffice, however to prevent the Ameri-
can Government from extending rec
ognition to the De Gaullists.
All the facts of the matter must some
day be disclosed. For the present 1t is
only possible to piece together the va
rious intimations that have come from
official sources here concerning the De
Gaullist movement In the last several
months. 1t is known that from the start
Gen. Eisenhower did not get along well
with Gen. de Gaulle. At the moment
when Gen. Eisenhower was critically
engaged with the landings in North
Africa and was trying to prevent the
French feet from being taken over by
the Germans, the De Gaulle faction
was making serious charges against Gen.
Eisenhower and otherwise harassing
him at time when he needed undivided
help and support from all Frenchmen.
Later on, when Gen. Giraud, q gall
liant soldier, stood at Gen. Eisenhowers
side and tried to put some semblance
of order into the remnants of the French
Army in Africa, the De Gaullists again
stepped in. The impression in many
quarters here is that Gen. de Gaulle Is
ambitious for political power.
Promised Cooperation.
But the United States is not making
sacrifices on the soil of France to put
any politician into Office. II Gen. de
Gaulle has the interest of his country
at heart, he will not interfere with the
invasion problems of the Allied govern
merits at this time. but will step aside
and let the Allied Military Government
take hold of the municipal problems
| there as 1t has done In Italy.
Cooperation with the French Ma
and can be carried on. But for the
United States Government to appear
to select Gen. de Gaulle to head the
government of France Is to nullify all
the pledges that, have heretofore been
given that the matter OF selecting q
French president would be left to the
French people.
There has been some suggestion that
the United States ought to recognize
the De Gaullists as the provisional gov
ernment of France and wait for an
election later to set up the real rulers
of France as the French people may
choose them. But Gen. de Gaulle Is not
in the same position as the de facto
governments have been in the past. He
has not co-operated with the American
or British forces in landing on French
territory, nor has he any sufiicient mill.
tary force of his own to warrant rec
ognition as de facto leader.
1t will be argued that the exiled gov
ernments in London also do not exercise
de facto authority in their respective
countries, but the fact remains that they
were the chosen leaders of the people
at the time of the first German attacks.
AS soon as French areas are liberated,
Gen. de Gaulle should have no OBJ
stacle placed in his path. He should be
given an opportunity, along with other
French political leaders, to participate
In the temporary government that will
undoubtedly be set up in liberated
France.
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