The Wilmington morning star., 1944-09-06
Big Fiive
BY NEAL STANFORD

IL HdS peeH ule Dig EouT up Until now.
In the near future the evidence is it will be
the Big Five. Despite the fog of secrecy that
hangs over Dumbarton Oaks, this fact is be-
coming clear: France, which had almost uni
versally been written off as a great nation
after its disastrous defeat in 1910, will shortly
rejoin the ranks of the mighty.
No longer does President Roosevelt in speak
ing of the formation of council to head up
an international security organization refer to
a Four Power combination plus representa-
tves of a number of smaller nations. He
speaks Of bog powers and small powers. So
does the three man committee now meeting
at Dumbarton Oaks.
Obviously, France will shortly, if it a S
not already been, be invited to take a seat
at the head of the table. Frances vote in
international affairs then will not be j u S t
another vote, but a deciding vote. That is
the significance of the vague description of
the composition of the postwar leagues council
used by Messrs. Stettinius,- Cadogan, a n d
Gromyko the other day.
There are several reasons for this sudden
resurgence of French greatness. The liberation
of Paris by the French themselves, the valour
of the French Forces of the Interior, played
their part.
Also there is evidence that the Big Three,
particularly the Anglo Saxon members, are
beginning to see France in proper perspec-
tive. When beaten, the value was negative.
Arising now from its ashes the phoenix-like
French chanticleer is not only regaining its
voice, but its strength, its plumage, and its
honor.
Britain needs a strong and trusty friend
across the Channel, Russia needs the same
on Germany's western frontier. And the United
States needs the same if stable Europe in
stable world is to emerge from this war
France is the heart of Europe. 1t is now
dawning on London and Washington how nec-
essary' it is that that heart beat vigorously
for the Anglo Saxon nations.
France is certainly going to have to help keep
the peace in the postwar years. 1t is still
Ge-manys next door neighbor. 1t is still a
nation with an empire extending throughout
the world. It is still historically the cultural
seat of Western Civilization.
Already France has acquired representation
on the Allied Control Commission that super
vises defeated Italy. It will with equal GER
tainty have voice in the administration of
occupied Germany.
It is not only that the Allies will grant
France a place among the great powers.
France itself expects it, is claiming it. Almost
! the first words General de Gaulle uttered in
his triumphal arrival in Paris emphasized the
French lnSlStence on place among Ine great
powers.
If Germany is to be policed, what nations
have more interest in policing it than its neigh
bors? France, whose frontier may well be on
the Rhine, as well as Britain, whose frontier
it has been proved is really on the Rhine,
will be persstently concerned over German
behavior. So will Russia in the east. And
while there is every expectation that American
troops will do their share in an army Of occu-
patton for Germany, the talk now is that French
troops will take hand in the occupying, and
with relish
It has taken the Allied Big Three some
time to adjust themselves to a revived and
fighting France 1t has not been done altogether
gracefully and tactfully. But the point is it
is now being done.
Frances Flaming rebirth'' seems to have
startled even embarrassed Allied diplo-
mats. There seemed to be an element OF il
legitimacy about it. Vichy, for all of its NAL
odorous connections, still possessed claim Of
legal continuity and political succession which
! is so sacred to the diplomatic mind.
| But now as de Gaulle renews his pledge
to hold elections, as the Vichymen become
the prisoners Of their captors, there actually
is only de Gaulle and his committee which
can speak for France It has become de
Gaulle or nothing at all.
So the Big Three at Dunbarton Oaks which
will become the Big Four as China replaces
Russia as parley participant can be counted
on shortly to make France Mr.. Big Number
Five-Christian Science Monitor