Evening star., 1944-07-07
Bosic Principle Seen
In De GuuIIe Problem

In De GouIIe Problem
Roosevelt Critics Have Muddied
Diplomatic Waters, Says Writer
By David Laurence
The courtesies and honors being be.
slowed on Gen. de Gaulle by every one
IN Washington, beginning with President
Roosevelt, ought to be q convincing dem.
onstration that the policy of the Gov.
ernment OF the United States on tho
subject Of provisional recognition of the
French Committee Of National Libera.
ton Is not . personal matter but q basic
problem of principle.
Those who have hitherto suggested
that personal antipathies entered into
the settling OF problem of the magni-
tude involved in recognition of the
provisional French government have
succeeded only In muddying the waters
and making even more dificult the
handling Of . problem that requires the
utmost care and delicacy.
1t Is not often that American blood ia
sneo to hoerate an oppressed people.
But when that occurs it is of the greatest
Importance that the sacrifices shall bs
made In line with American tradition.
lnls tradition calls for the exercise of
freedom by the peoples liberated. It
ooes not call for the imposition of 4
puppet government or the installation
Of '"favsrites" by the United states
Unfair Criticism.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Hull have been unfairly criticized bv
many observers in this country, some ~
whom have insisted that the United
states Government extend provisional
recognition to the French Committe. ~
national Liberation. The impression
mas been created that personal friction
mas been basic In the affair. As a matter
OF TACT, there has been all along no mis-.
understanding Of the fundamental issues
involved, and while dispatches from
Algiers from time to time have siven
unfortunate impressions the fact re.
mains that there are only two under.
lying questions involved In the whole
problem.
one Is what do the French people
want and the other Is how should thu
power OF the United States be exercised
a1ter military occupation has succeed.d,
Inc questions really are related to thu
iuture rather than the present. Gen.
oe Gaulle may turn out to be the choic.
oi tne french people. He may be the
man TO whom ultimately RECOGNITION i,
extended, but the United States Govern.
ment always has maintained In extend.
ing recognition that 1t would follow tuo
piiiicipies' namely, that the chief execu-
i've shall not get his ofice by viol.nc.
ana that the wishes Of the peopl. sh.,I
be fully indicated.
recognition de facto is extended when
an executive rules only q part of .
country but apparently has military
domination OF it. Recognition de iure !.
EXTENDED when the constitutional proc.
esses OF q country have been operative
ana an executive has been elected
NOT IN all cases has the rule of with.
noiolng recognition where violence has
occurred been adhered to. but where II
mas been ignored the factual situation
a1ter an executive assumes power.
taken into consideration. In other
words, II the executive actually has DOS.
session OF country and the public ap-
pears 10 acQulesce in the result. recoe-
milton is usually extended.
Must Exercise Caution.
In the nrAsAnt ipete~a>
United States and the Allied countries
which are accomplishing the military
domination of France. The responM.
ol1ty, therefore, rests upon the Allied
governments to exercise every caution
that the public will of France Ia r..
spected. Do the people of France want
Gen. de Gaulle? A few newspaper dis
patches say they do, but such a small
part OF French territory-about l Der
cent-has actually been liberated that
no proper judgment can as vet be
formed on this point.
Through all the controversy the
President and Secretary of State have
maintained dignified and proper atti.
tude. They have now shown by their
invitation to Gen. de Gaulle to coma
to Washington, and by theffriendly re-
ception given him. that the questions
before the American Government are 40
fundamental that they cannot at this
time be resolved.
The discussion with Gen. de Gaulle
here, 1t has been announced, is center
ing on problems connected with the
military operations. Cooperative plans
are being worked out. 1t Is assumed
that, as soon as each area is liberated.
the French National Committee will
send in its ofncials to help in the civil
administration, but our military author.
1ty will remain until a substantial part
OF France has been liberated and until
such time as q substantial number Of
French citizens can decide by ballot or
convention or meeting of their parlia.
ment who they want to lead them.
tReproduction Rights Reserved)
No Comfort for the Enemy
Prom the New York Herald rrihup.