Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-07-12

No authorized spokesman at the White
House or the State Department is will
ing to discuss the De Gaulle mystery
openly. The French Ambassador here
and official French sources in Paris
have announced that the head OF the
provisional French government mas
accepted" President Truman's invita-
ton to visit him in Washington next
month. Qualified American sources say
there is no comment although such
visits usually are announced s1multa-
neously by both parties concerned.
The truth is that for the time being
the American Government is of two
minds about the ACCESSIBILITY Of off,
cially receiving Gen. de Gaulle, and
until his future attitude in interna-
tional affairs is better defined no in
vitation will be forthcoming.
Soon after President Truman took
office he issued blanket invitation
to the heads of all the major Allied
nations, including Gen. de Gaulle. AT
that time, Mr.. Truman felt that he
would be too busy for some time to
visit any foreign lands. He had as
sumed extremely heavy responsibilities
and while strong advocate OF the
closest possible international relations,
he hoped the heads of the foreign
governments would come to see him
in America.
Of them all, Gen. de Gaulle was the
most likely to avail himself of the
invitation. A few days before the
World Security Conference opened at
San Francisco, friends of France urged
that he hasten to accept the new
Presidents bid.
1t was then made clear to him that
the American Government was wor-
ried about our responsibilities in Ger
many and that under certain condi-
lions this country would be prepared
to assist France in every way pos
sible and before long hand over the
American-occupied zone to the Paris
government.
There were many high-placed per-
sons inside and outside the admins
tration who were thinking in terms
of helping to create France which
would be the strongest power west of
the Elbe River Frances past history
and prestige throughout Europe made
her the most likely nation to help
re-establishment of progressive de-
mocracy in areas threatened with po-
litical and social confusion and eco
nomic debacle.
Unfortunately, Gen. de Gaulle did
not heed the advice given to him.
He was told, unoficially, that his well
come in Washington would be far
warmer and more spectacular than last
year when he was received at the
White House by President Roosevelt
mostly, at the pressing request OF the
British government.
The head of the French government
may have had some ideas of his own.
What they were nobody in Washington
can gauge. In any event, he appar-
emily turned deaf ear to the unself1sh
suggestions coming from the real friends
of France and later developed policy
in the Levant which took the American
Government by surprise and was in
strict contradiction with the idea this
administration held about world peace
and justice.
The Levant adventure turned out to
be a bad gamble. The American AM
bassador at Paris, jefferson Gallery,
pleaded with Gen. de Gaulle to hold his
hand, at least until after the San Fran
cisco Conference. His appeal was ig-
nored And for good measure the
French authorities, presumably follow
Ing Gen de Gaulles instructions, began
to place handicaps In the way OF the