Evening star., 1945-04-01

Inc UnlteQ StatcS ana 1rcdt 6IIJdlAl
are both committed, without any defin-
tive announcement on the subject, to
q policy Of helping to build up France
militarily, economically and politically
as the keystone state of Western Con-
tinental Europe. They regard this con-
summation as necessary in the interest
of peace and order.
But officials here frankly complain
that this task is being made difacult for
them by the policies and attitudes taken
by France itself these days. They are
particularly irked by the stream of crit
icism emerging from the Paris press and
certain French politicians and officials
against the United States and its al
legged policies.
This constant impugning of American
motives is making 1t increasingly diff
cult for the administration to maintain
public support of policies designed to
bulwark Gen. Charles de Gaulle's pro-
visiof1al government and to hasten the
economic restoration of France. That,
at least, is the feeling in responsible
quarters.
Will Yield No Territory.
A case in point is the speech made be-
fore the Consultative Assembly this week
by Foreign Minister Georges Bidault,
who appeared to approve and support
charges made in an earlier speech by Po
Lapie that the United States had i'm
perialistic designs on French possessions
in the Far East, particularly New Gale
donia and French Indo- China. He went
on to say. according to press reports:
I'VE are ready to collaborate with all
but we shall give up no territory"
The State Department has never con-
cealed its annoyance over the fact that
Admiral Jean Decoux, governor general
of Indo-China, opened the gates for the
japanese in 1941 and so aided their
preparations for the Pacific war. This
action was strongly condemned at the
time in a public statement by Acting
Secretary Sumner Welles. However,
that sin was charged against Vichy-
not the present French government
and, despite contrary press reports from
Paris, officials here know that at the
present time arms are being supplied to
the French resistance forces in Indo-
China.
As to bases, it Is pointed out that
never at any time has any responsible
American oficial advanced claims to any
part of the French Empire. M. Bidault
and M. Lapie may have became excited
over few isolated speeches by members
Of Congress, made months ago, in favor
of the United States holding all islands
it had occupied in the Pacific. But
these men did not speak for the admin
istration and reflected no opinion but
their own.
Insisted on Paris.
Unfortunately these attacks in the
Assembly followed shortly on Gen. de
Gaulle's refusal to meet President
Roosevelt anywhere except in Paris and
Frances refusal to sponsor the San
Francisco Conference without prior and
specific acceptance of its right to amend
the Dumbarton Oaks plan.
Some new light may be shed now on
the basis of authoritative information
on the much discussed subject of the
failure of Gen. de Gaulle and President
Roosevelt to meet during the latter's
recent trip to Yalta. When the matter
was first broached to Paris, American
officials were told that the French pro-
visional president would be glad to meet
Mr.. Roosevelt at any convenient time
and place.
Later, when Algiers was suggested,
Gen. de Gaulle's representative disap-
proved it. Consequently it was proposed,
according to sources in position to
know the facts, that the President
should come to the Mediterranean port
of Marseilles in metropolitan France.
Paris also turned that down and made
it clear that Paris was the only ac-
ceptable meeting place.
just what went on in Gen. de Gaulle' s
mind in the period between his agree
ment to meet the President at any con-
venient place and his later insistence
on Paris Is not definitely known. Ap.
parently some of his advisers convinced
him that reasons of prestige dictated
this policy.
Basic Policy Stands.
As an interesting sidelight, it is un-
derstood here that M. Bidault, the
Foreign Minister, opposed final French
policy on both the proposed meeting of