Detroit evening times., 1944-12-11

IN REVIEW
By Maj. Gen.
D. P. Barrows

A~ASss>~o oAsA 49, ~SsHsSt
cluding those In which our own
government participates, has
been so heavily drawn that we
may learn little of the De-
Gaulle-Stalin conference from
any direct statement by the
participants.
What Is agreed upon at the
Kremlin will have to be judged
by the actions OF Gen. DeGaulle
after his return to France.
Nevertheless II seems possible
that. so far as the future Of
western Europe Is concerned.
this conference may be the
most important meeting be-
tween political chieftains that
has so far been held.
Our interest in II should rate
very high.
Gen. DsGaulle's purpose may
be simply to secure Stains
sympathy and support for his
own position. which Is a Diff
cult one.
He may desire a French-Rus-
sian understanding or alliance
at this time, to secure agree
ment as to the future of the
German state and people.
DUSSIA and France have suf-
~ fered much from Hitlers
ruthless inpaSions-the French
by their national humiliation.
the Russians by actual devasta-
tion and destruction.
Both Russians and French
have strong memories OF wrongs
that they have suffered.
Both are certain to be affected
by motives of revenge upon the
German nation.
Both are likely to feel that
the attitude OF the British and
American peoples may be too
considerate toward the Ger
mans, and too disposed TO allow
them to restore their internal
prosperity.
DeCaulle may be- Influenced
by the past relations OF these
two countries. =.
There Is between France and
Russia a Iong-established policy
of mutual support against the
German aggressor. that both
have dreaded for more than two
generations.
In 1881 Bismark formed his
famous dreibund. triple aiii.
ance" between Germany, Aus
tria-Hungary. and Italy.
France was thereby com.
pletely isolated.
Old rancors and hatreds then
separated France from Great
Britain.
French diplomacy turned to
Russia, and the dual alliance
was consummated in 1891.
THIS defensive compact. by
l. which each country pledged
aid TO the other in a European
conflict, lasted into the First
World War. It's terms compelled
France. in 1914, to declare war
upon Germany when that war
began between Germany. Aus
tria and Russia.
When the successor to the
tzarist regime. the Karensky
government. was overthrown by
the Bolshevist revolution. and
Soviet Russia made separate
peace with Germany. the rage
and resentment Of the French
at their desertion by the Rus
slams were indescribable.
They led to an alienation that
lasted long after the First
World War,
Soviet Russia denounced her
western Allies and Lenin pur.
sued the delusion that com.
munism would sweep over them.
Against this western spread
OF Russian intrigue. the French
followed a policy Of cutting OF
Russian relations with the west,
10 which was applied the term
of Gordon sanitarie."
II was years before France
broke this political quarantine
by resuming relations with
Russia.
THEN came the radical al
L teration of policy by the
Third International. described
by that organization as the
policy OF the Trojan Horse"
Communism presented a new
front to the western nations,
that Of professed patriotic de-
votion by Communists who
were nationals Of other lands,
and a subtle boring within"
among the revolutionary or
Socialist parties abroad.
This policy was tolerated by
the French Republic and the
French premier. Leon Blum. ad-
mitted the French Communists
into the government of the
popular front"
There are two views with re-
spect to the consequences Of
this action. One applauds il
as introducing a more demo-
cratic elment into western gov.
ernnnent. The other. or adverse
view, attributes to Communist
participation the weakening Of
France and her final overthrnw
in this war.
TIE GAULLE, by views ex.
~ pressed and actions taken,
beginning with his regime in
North Africa, seems TO incline
to the pro-Communist attitude