Evening star., 1947-10-26


fighting French against the Nazis
nor later, when he became interim
head Of the French government, die
Gen. de Gaulle demonstrate that HI
has any political touch"
Man of the Hour
Gen. de Gaulle is overbearing
opinionated and frequently tactless
Under normal conditions his chance.
of obtaining even job as sheriff
by election would be very remote
But in extreme emergencies, as exis
today throughout the world, he i!
the man of the hour and the French
voters have sensed it.
Gen. de Gaulle is energetic anc
possesses degree of courage anc
fortitude which is lacking in tor
many leaders outside the iron cur.
tain. He is conceited and believes
instinctively that his country, de-
spite its reverses and postwar diff.
culties, will be called to play an.
other great role int the history o1
the world. He also believes that
he is the only man who can guide
her steps in the right direction.
The American Government has
never gotten on well with the for
mer provisional President of the
French Republic. He was con-
sidered strongly anti-American. He
was. in fact, anti-American through
out the war and after the liberia
ton of France while he held the
top office in the republic.
The reason for his hostility to
the United States is due purely
to personal considerations. He
rubbed President Roosevelt the
wrong way and Mr.. Roosevelt re-
piled in kind.
Challenged the u. S.
A few weeks ago Gen. de Gaulle
had long talk with some mem
bers of Congress who were investi-
eating conditions in France. He
told them: "Mr. Roosevelt appar-
emily did not like the shape OF
my nose and the size of my Adam S
apple. I certainly disliked intensely
his sarcasm and sense of humor
That is all to be said about our
poor relationship"
This. apparently, is true. Al
though Gen. de GauJe should have
realized how much he might have
to depend on the United States
and although some of his advisers
told him that he might miss his
postwar chances unless he showed
more friendiiness and tolerance, he
challenged the United States and
did not fear the consequences. That
was not good politics, but it did
show the man had temerity and
fearlessness.
Because of his antlpathy to our
wartime Chief Executive he COM
mitted serious blunders. He spent
a good deal of money to propa-
gandize the French people against
America and jumped at the chance
to get on the Soviet side.
Soon after he became head of the
provisional government at Algiers in
1914, he made speech praising to
high heaven "our traditional ally,
the great and beloved Russia"
Prime Minister Stain did not
miss his chance. He recognized
Gen. de Gaulle as the head of the
legitimate French government long
before any others of the Allies did
SO, and he sent a full-fedged Am
bassador to Algiers.
Comrade Bogololov, the Russian
Ambassador, arrived in Algiers with
a large staff of experts" Within
a short time they imposed on Gen.
de Gaulle Comdr. Jacques Marty, a
renegade Frenchman who had at
tempted to cause mutiny in the
French Navy in 1919. Marty is now
secretary general of the French
Communist Party and the COM
mander of the Communist under
ground forces estimated at some
100000 partisans.
Rejected Russian Treaty
Soon after he was installed in
Paris as provisional president, Gen,
de Gaulle went to Russia to <sign
a treaty with the U. S. S. R. He
was taken, like other European gov
ernment officials, on what Is known
as the Vodka circuit"
Mr.. Stain was prepared to sign
a treaty of alliance on his own
terms, but Gen. de Gaulle, did not
like them. He bluntly told Foreign
Molotov exactly that. An
other 20-course dinner-movie party
was given in his honor in the Krem-
lin. Gen. de Gaulle, who is an
abstemious Frenchmen, asked dur
ing showing of the film, Ivan the
Terrible" what was happening to
The treaty. Mr.. Molotov whispered
that it would have to stand as
drafted by the Politbureau. Gen.
de Gaulle bowed politely when the
film was finished and before the
second supper was served told Stain
stiff1y that he was flying back to
Paris in three hours-as soon as the
plane could be made ready.
Back in Paris the general began
having trouble with the Commu-
aists. whose power, thanks to liberal
funds and supplies received from the
D. S. S. R., was In the ascendancy.
he was soon being attacked as the
'eacsionary tool of imperialism and
Is a would-be dictator.
Gradually Gen, fe Gaulle's COL