The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-08-31
Observations
French Attitude
Strikes Discord
in Washington

III i naQ not nedTu Win my ONA
distended ears the statements Gen.
eral de Gaulle, provisional presi-
dent Of the French Republic, made
at his Washington. conference, |
should have said other peoples
reports of the meeting were out
rageously exaggerated.
In fact, as | sat and listened TO
the French visitor expressing his
country's dictatorial attitude to-
ward the United States and the rest
OF the world, / thought | must be
listening to something out OF a
comic strip. Or that / was suffer
ing a temporary attack Of demen-
tia praecox.
could it be possible" thought,
that France did really win the
war? Single handed! II Is a mis-
take to assume that France crumpl-
ed at the first onslaught OF the enc
my? Surely, only a nation compla-
cent in victory could be so AFRO
CAN'T"
THE United States must. -"
France finds 1t necessary.
France demands. -" These were
the phrases most thickly sprinkled
through the generals voluble con-
versation. These and other such
bits of camouflage as international
cooperation" and "Our deal friend
and ally in whom we must always
live in amity." Plus THE gr-r-r-eat
economic power of the United
States. Plus again International
cooperation.
international ooperatio n"
means, translating roughly, How
much more can we get out OF the
United States?" II is probably the
one phase understood at the pres
ent time by all nations. II is the
one common denomination OF langu-
age and national purpose.
The United States was already
shipping one million tons of food
each month to France, said the
general. Also many tons OF ma
terials needed in reconstruction.
Coal, too. But these so generous
gifts were only an immediate
help"
NEImduYs uONthtEt huEN BC PlN-
vented from ever going to war, the
general explained. War was not
good for Germany. France wanted
much more of Germany than alrea-
dy provided. France would natur-
ally keep sovereignty intact in
"Ando Shin-wah" (Indo-China TO
you and me single-tongued Ameri-
cans.) "Vraiment", France would
keep all her islands. Her position
was simple-full restoration or
French sovereignty everywhere.
In addition to economic help, OF
much greater amount from the
great United States, the United
States, the country "magniflque",
would undoubtedly be happy to help
France keep alive the spirit OF
"demo-krass-see" in Franz" and
the rest of the world.
General de Gaulle's little sugges-
tons were made in the pleasantest
tones. And complete with persi-
flage. Sentences and more sent
ences, as full of sweet, warm adte-
tives as the speech of an American
candidate for office. flowed from
hi mobile lips. Everything was
so charming. Everyone was so hap
by. France meant only kindness
but will Il be possible for you
BUT" at the ind of each prelude
of love and peace on earth-always
the BUT. Spelled with a big
big "B".
A reporter took up the word
But.
Mr.. President" he said polite
~, with an almost Gallo smile,
But will it be possible for you
to tell us what economic help you
are going TO demand OF the United
States? VIII you please be more
specific?
The general blinked little. Mon
sieur lie ambassador, sitting beside
him, narrowed calculating eyes. A
nearby general. in uniform, tapped
a well-polished shoe on the Royal
Bokhara rug. There was a short
pause-for international announce
ments or cooperation.
"That-ah--that matter must be
decided by the government OF
France in relation, OF course. to the
gr-r-r-eat economic power of
Frances friend and ally-the Unit
ed States"
Well. I'm thankful we've got a
direct-talking middle westerner in
the number one Office OF this ma.
tion-this so powerful and so gen.
erous nation. Something tells me
Mr. Truman hasn't got too far from
the philosophy this country is made
or And maybe it will be cash on
the old cracker barrel from now on.
WASHINGTON ms 49, Sen
George (D-Gal endorsed Wpdnes.