Evening star., 1944-12-24
De Gaulle, Resisting Stain,
Wins Soviet Chief S Respect
French Leader Holds Out for Internationalizing
of Ruhr Rejecting Russian Plan and
Opposing Lublin Setup as Well

1t is reported that Stain complimented
De Gaulle on his realism and also on his
flrmness, saving he wished more states
men were like him in these respects.
What the Russians did-and WASH
ington still fails to do in any like meas
ure-was to recognize De Gaulle as a
great moral force inside France AS one
Frenchman expresses 1t, The Russians
understand very clearly the situation in
France. They are remarkably well in
formed"
This is one more indication that the
Soviets understand the political situa-
ton throughout Europe much better
than the governments and diplomats OF
other Allied countries. My French friend
says: "The Soviets would never commit
the blunders which the British have
committed in Belgium and italy. AS for
Greece-why doesn't the Churchill gov
ernment understand that what it is do
ing now in Athens is merely working
for the future communizing of Greece?"
De Gaulle on Communism.
In any event, there is one supreme
fact about France which the British
and American governments can mis-
judge only to their longterm chagrin
or serious discomfort. There are only
two powerful forces in France today
De Gaulle and the Communist party.
This is the common testimony of French
observers of long experience. There is
no Frenchman in sight who could pos
sibly replace De Gaulle. There is also
no political force which could con-
ceivably supplant De Gaulle except the
Communist party. All other French
parties are confused, disorganized and
still without broad base throughout
France
The French Communists are esti-
mated to have doubled their sizable
prewar numbers. In one sense, how
ever, this is an embarrassment for them.
They have gained large new following
from the resistance and the Maquis.
But these new members are not dis
ciplined or indoctrinated as old men,
bers are. Therefore, the French Com
munists need year or two to consoli-
date their enlarged party and develop
new leaders.
But the weight of the Communists
numbers imposes certain limits upon
De Gaulle. Suppose he fails to heed
the popular clamor for naturalization
OF munitions plants, of mines, electrical
companies and credit. Unless De Gaulle
pushes some of these reforms-which
are demanded by French moderates and
hv tho "a fprifx, Of "a {,,
, Christian Democratic party-he will
push a great many moderate French
men into the camp of the Communists.
Hailed as Statesman.
This is why De Gaulle is the only
alternative to a left-wing, Communist
dominated government in France.
Whether London or Washington recog-
nize this or not won't change the situa-
ton in the least. De Gaulle may sup
port socialist reforms which seem revo-
lutionary to lis. Nevertheless, De GauIle
thus far represents Frances one chance
to make her revolution with restraint
and an important element of compro-
mise. AS for a counterrevolutionar
movement from the right-wing reac-
tionaries, of course that cannot be dis
counted as long-term possibility. But
right now, and for an unpredictable fu-
ture, 1t is De Gaulle or the French Com
munists - and plenty OF thinking
Frenchmen realize this fact
The more you learn about De Gaulle,
the more surprising he is as phenome-
non. Although military man by ca
reer, De Gaulle has shown himself an
extraordinary politician. With one OF
the toughest jobs in the world, De
Gaulle has not yet made a major po-
ltical blunder. In Paris you meet
Frenchmen well versed in politics who
insist De Gaulle is greater statesman
than Churchill, better politician than
Roosevelt. Anyhow, he apparently got
almost exactly what he wanted in Mos
cow-and he left with Stalin's sincere
respect. Since Clemenceau and Poin-
care, there hasn't been French leader
to rival Charles de Gaulle.