Evening star., 1946-01-27

AS lOF rIeHCIl lHOTdlS, Ine ATIny
thinks it important that GIs know that
we have a higher divorce and crime rate
than they do; that the French are less
puritanical
1t gravely assures soldiers that the
custom of kissing on the streets is a
traditional greeting of old friends, but
for their love-making, the French
prefer privacy, if available-just as we
do"
The CT Bias
These explanations of French mores
are part of an unprecedented, if belated,
effort by the War Department to miti-
gate the intense bias of American SOL
diers toward the French. A recent
Army poll showed that 48 per cent pre-
ferred the British, % per cent favored
the German and only 16 per cent had
liking for the French.
To counteract this GI bias against
traditional Ally, the Army's Information
and Education Division assigned DR.. Leo
c. Rosten to explain the French nation
its customs, morals, standards of
cleanliness and its lack of modern
plumbing, its work habits and politics.
DR.. Rosten, with his ear to French
and American earthiness, selected the
most prominent sources of friction and
came up with 111-page pamphlet en-
titled ZIP Gripes About the French" and
an explanation for each. The pamphlet
is about to be issued to soldiers in
Europe. Previous works by DR.. Rosten,
writing as Leonard g. Ross, includes
THE Education of H-Y-M-A-N
K-A-P-L-A-N," relating the trials and
tribulations of newcomer to the
United States.
Selected Gripes
Here are a few of the gripes and DR..
Rostens explanations in abbreviated
form:
"French 1Domen are easy 'pickups.'"
The French women who are easy
pickups are those who are easily
picked up 1t is as foolish to generalize
about French women from the few any
American has met as it would be to
generalize about all American women
from the few a man might pick up near
an Army camp.
"French lDonlen are immoral"
Which French women? Most French
girls before the war had far less free
dom than our girls back home. A great
many were not permitted to go out
without a chaperone. France is domi-
nantly Catholic in religion and morals.
The immoral Frenchwomen are, of
course, the easiest women for us to
meet. That's why we meet so many
of them.
"EUery time French girl sits dotOn
she pulls her dress or skirt up"
She isn't trying to call your attention
to her legs. She is trying to save wear
and tear on old clothes, or on new
clothes which are made of such shoddy
material that they won't take much
wear.
All in the Point of View
"The French are immoral. They are
morally decayed"
The French, like many other Euro
pean peoples, are far less puritanical
than we are in their manners, love
making, conversations and conduct.
Europeans often say we Americans are
young and unsophisticated nation;
we retort that they are old and immoral.
Whether it is less moral or more unin-
hibited depends on your point of view.
Don't judge France by the Montmarte.
1t caters to foreign tourists in search of
the risque.
France is very devout nation The
French have very strong family sys-
tenn, very low divorce rate, and a
much lower crime rate than we do.
"We came to Europe t1oice in rs gears
to saUe the French"
We came to Europe in two wars be-
cause it was better to fight our enemy
in Europe than in America Would it
have been smarter to fight the Battle
of the Bulge in Ohio? When France
fell, our last defense on the continent
was gone. France was the keystone of
freedom" on land from the Mediter-
ranean to the North Sea; it was bull
wark against German aggression.
France guarded the Atlantic and the
bases the Germans needed on the At
lantic for submarine and air warfare.
American security and American for
eign policy have always rested on this
hard fact: We cannot permit a hostile
power on the Atlantic Ocean. We
cannot be secure if we are threatened
on the Atlantic.
"Mais Naturellement"
"The French aDelcomed US at first;
fotDathey DGnt US to get out"
OF course the French would prefer
that American troops leave as soon
as possible. So would you if you were
Frenchman. AS long as we are here
we impose an added strain on the
already overtaxed French economy.
The French need the billets and food
and supplies and services which they
are now supplying to us.
"The French are mercenary. They'll
do anything for couple OF hundred
francs"
Where do you draw the line between
smart businessman" and a "mer-