The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-07-19
Observations
DeGaulle Aloof
From Compromise,
Diplomacy
BY Helen Essary


es and delphinium on the ide table
OF the residence at 1929 Massachus-
etts avenue, where Gen Charles
De Gaulle held his first American
press conference had been TO
party the night before. A dinner
party surely. The flowers We're
arranged with that mathematical
firmness that florists exhibit on
centerpieces.
While the general was having his
Washington inquisition done into
French by an interpreter, my mind
suddenly leaped back TO the pink
roses and delphinium had seen
several years ago In the same room
of the mansion at 1929. That CEN
terpiece had also adorned a dinner
party: that was where ! met It.
1t was a dinner party given ny
the then German Ambassador
Hans Dieckoff not long before his
recall to Berlin. DR.. Dieckott
then had been doing his diplomatic
best TO Sustain friendly relations
between Germany and the United
States
That is what the agreeable and
shrewd German said he was doing.
He said IL in manner and gay con-
versation TO one of those famous
cross. sections OF Washington who
were guests at HIS dinner.
He said ii a few days later In
this very room at his last press
conference as German ambassador.
Before Dieckoff's occupation OF
1929 the house had been used by
the then Hungarian ambassador.
Szchenyi. And now this morning
its walls were listening in on a
French military mans belief in the
not distant liberation of France.
Quite a person this French mil
itary man, De Gaulle. Not a COM
promiser. Not a diplomat He
made II quite clear before and af.
ter translation that he meant 10
look after the interests OF France
no matter what happened to any
other country or its peoples.
Rather a blunt fellow But spir-
tied. And cheerful.
His forthrightness made a good
impression. Not too handsome, nor
too beguiling. he looked a true
Gaul-no pun intended-with his
long nose and sloping shoulders.
A long nose. certainly. But not
a nose TO be tweaked carelessly.
Nor were the sloping shoulders to
be pushed out OF the way without
a good deal OF force in the push.
A self-confident fighting man.
That is how De Gaulle appeared
to me.
The last time I had been in this
room OF 1929, there had been views
OF the Rhineland and Of the cath
edrals OF Cologne and Dresden on
the walls. Now old French prints
spotted the pale gray background.
The last time here | had heard
a foreign dignitary explain the po-
sition OF his country and his own
position TO the American public by
way OF the press. The air rever-
berated slightly to Teutonic gut
terals. Today there was a pleasant
hiss OF French sibilants.
At the beginning OF the confer
ence. the general responded quietly
TO the questions asked him Grad
ually, as he sensed the friendli-
ness OF the group about him and
recognized his own opportunity,
he grew more. shall say. typically
French. Each time he said
France, a true Frenchman speaks
II 'Frohnzz," there was a special
emphasis In his voice. Sometimes
he pounded the table for La Pat
RE.
Again and again the same phras-
es - "Le-bear-tay and Frohn7z":
"Nay-go-shee-ash-ee-un avec Lag
Ata-You-Nee".: Lee Grand-ure OF
Frohnzz"; "Arrange.mon pra.tique"
..."Meel ee.taire," vic tor.ee,"
sounded in tone OF independence.
Generally independent was the
attitude Of the visiting Frenchman.
The capital OF France was. is and
always will be Paris" This trif-
ling around with temporary cap
itals in Algiers and towns in
France was only a confusion Of
the moment. OF the future OF
"Frohnzz.' Monsieur lie General
has no doubt.
1.-The French EMPIRE" "Ah-
h-h--" ct was the sort OF an ex-
clamation that could not have been
heard by pre.war American tour
list. without travellers checks, a
passport, a trip across the bound
ing Atlantic, and an entry into a
complicated French port. And now
Il was being spoken With practic-
ally no cost at all 10 the Amer
lean tourist and taxpayer. Except
OF course some lend.lease millions
which nobody pays any attention
TO nowadays.
THE French empire-Ah-it will
be complete again" With iudo-
China?" "Ah.h h! Naturellment.
Why. It might have been Win
ston Churchill telling the House Of
Commons about the British empire
after the war.