The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-03-31
BY NORTON WEBB


BY NORTON WEBB
Washin9ton's view that the recent breaches
in Franco-American relations are being ef-
fectively mended is heartening. For it means
French fears about not being allotted tull
and equal partnership in the peace must be
subsiding through American assurances she
will enjoy all rights a Big Five member
Paris reports tend to confirm this, though the
French merely speak OF a relaxation OF strain
(detente) and deem this insufficient as San
Francisco must do more than merely bury
past differences.
In considering the French attitude toward
Dumbarton Oaks as a whole, it is well to
note their ong-standing zeal for indivldualsm
has bred such dissirnilar ways and means
of thinking from others as to often make their
views extremely difficult to understand and
so cause periods of diplomatic isolation for
France, like that occurring recently over Yal-
ia, but now happily reported as being dis
sipated.
General de Gaulle and French Foreign Min
lister Georges Bidault-the latter will head
the French delegation to the Golden Gate
have from the start been trying to reconcile
certain lines of French foreign policy based
on highly nationalistic French traditions with
CQOSe OIL Tie OCQ6T flleu pOWGIS VIII ulSloI
France will find her long, anxious quest for
security best assured in system Of collec-
tive security.
One traditional French issue is the Rhine.
Both General de Gaulle and Minister Bidault
have repeatedly echoed the famous Foch men,
DIR Of Feb. S. 1919, which emphasized priority
rights for France on the great rivers left-bank
territories. How far such French claims will
L. -4:n 1,,&, c;r
cant that Paris Figaro is complaining the
Big Three have already blueprinted Rhine
Westphalian State about which France has
been told nothing. The de Gaulle-Bidault pro-
ject to erect two political pillars-a Franco
Soviet alliance and Franco British pact, to
constitute the regional organization of Eu-
ropes security" is also in line with custom
airy Quai dOrsay procedure.
L'Aube, of which Monsieur Bidault was
formerly editor, said pact with Russia was
a must because she is 1.-The greatest mill
tary power of continental Europe" Incident
ally, achievement of military security by the
French has long had leading role in their
diplomacy and the average Frenchman takes
this as elementary axiom Of French ex
istence. Military insecurity for his country
that feels the immediacy Of her frontiers
acutely, would be sheer folly. Therefore, any
French Government pushing for security"
will have his backing
But successful conclusion of a Franco-Sovi-
ct alliance on Dec. 10, 1914 was soon chilled
by the revelation Of French non participation
at the February Yalta meeting. General de
Gaule's outbursts of indignation at the time
unquestionably more or less echoed the feel
ings of all Frenchmen. The effect the
more chilling because de Gaulle had for long
been burning the midnight oil to build up
French prestige. More cold water came when
tho OF IN fol
reservations France wished to make as AMI
inviting power at San Francisco. Still another
Russian rebuff was handed France on March
7 when Moscow refused to amend the Dunn
barton Oaks security plane to accord with
the Franco-Soviet alliance.
On the side of the desired Franco-Eritish
alliance, Feb. 4 saw French Foreign Minister
Bdault going to London to erect his second
European security pillar. The British, how
ever, had made it clear to France that prior
to signing an Anglo French alliance, num-
Der of outstanding problems must be solved, |
among which was that OF British versus
French interests in the Levant. incidentally, |
the French are showing great concern not on
ly about French influence in the Levant but
the fate of their Empire They insist the Big
Three haves some sort of plan for trustee
ships Of inundated territories and naval bases
that will make inroads on French colonial
holdings. Minister Bidault did not consum-
mate his wanted Franco-British alliance while
in England, receiving instead plain intimaton
that, despite all British-American good will,
France alone must put her own house in |
order before the new European consolidation
could truly be fait accompli.
March 5 saw France refuse to be an invit- |
ing Power at San Francisco and quickly it |
began being said she adopting a thesis
set forth in the February 6 TAube that "A
moral law established by geography and ira
dition has decided that France will use the
power she holds or RECEIVERS for her own Sc
curity for the benefit of weak nations Form
er Premier PaulBoncour, the eminent French
lawyer appointed by Minister Bidault to stu
dy the Dumbarton Oaks plan, also takes this
line which will be used by the French to pro-
pose amendments to strengthen the voice of
the smaller nations. M. Paul-Boncour, never
theless, foreshadows French adherence to the
Dumbarton Oaks plan. In Britain and the
United States, France was accused Of being
the sefproclaimed leader of discontinued ma
tons at San Francisco
The de Gaulle and also Bdault, efforts to
reconcile nationalistic trends in French for
eign policy with those of the Allies demand
ing international cooperation have not met
Wholehearted endorsement in France Many
Frenchmen disapproved de Gaulle's behavior
toward Roosevelt and criticize his holding re-
gional pacts more practical at present than
Dumbarton Oaks. The newspaper Combat
echoing liberal or French Left views that have
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