Evening star., 1947-02-16

Stars foreign affairs analyst oe-
fore moving ON to Madrid.)
.PARIS.-Unbiased observers be-
come rapidly aware after spending
a short while in France that the ma
ton is weak from fatigue and faint
of heart. But they are also con-
vinced that France can get back on
her feet, if she is intelligently, as
sisted from abroad.
Politicians are still trying to lull
the people into a feeling that France
is still a great power, in fact as well
as name. The masses, objective
Frenchmen declare, don't care rap
about Frances position as a world
power, and want to keep the colonial
empire only because it represents a
renunerative investment.
Political leaders-both inside and
outside the government-believe
that the courtesy title of great
power" bestowed on France by the
Allies after the liberation, may soon
become a bargaining device for eco
nomic and financial assistance. They
all realize that within a relatively
short time the western powers and
the Soviet Union will be vying for
the affections of Marianne. And
the objective of their attentions ap-
pears to be more mercenary than in
the past.
There can be no argument about
Frances strategic Importance, not
only from a military point of view
but from the standpoint of prestige
as well. She still enjoys high
standing throughout Europe. Mill
tarily she is the most important
bridge linking the west and the east.
Culturally and politically her in
fuence over continental Europe is
undeniable.
The United States, which is re-
garded in this country as the sole
representative of the pleasant pre-
war world, is making little effort for
the present to impress the French
people with its power and ability to
get France out of its rut.
~ u. S.. Aid Overlooked.
America has done more for France
than any other country in the world
America equipped her armies for
the liberation fight against the
Nazis. America extended helping
hand to her after the liberation and,
in all likelihood, would continue to
do SO If France could stabilize her
domestic economy, a not too difficult
task.
Yet there are few Frenchmen
who have even vague notion of
what we have been doing for their
country. Parisians speak about the
"outrages" committed by American
soldiers, but seldom mention the
fact that American armies made the
liberation of Paris possible.
The newspapers are full of praise
for the generosity" of the Soviet
Union, which out of its deleted
larder is sending wheat to the fam
ished French people. When the
first Soviet ship, carrying some 5000
tons of grain, arrived at Marseille
there was a celebration in that city.
The harbor was bedecked with
French and Russian flags. The
Mavor in his Sunday best, drank
champagne toasts to Russia, the
traditional Friend of France. Mean
while, an American vessel was lying
in the outer harbor, with the eighth
or ninth consignment of wheat the
United States had sent France, but
little attention was paid to her.
Recently there was a rumor that
Russia was considering sending
France some coal, and the papers
were full of the story of this new
sign of eternal friendship" between
the two countries. The same day
the papers printed a short news
item to the effect that wheat sent
from America was going to reach
France-belatedly.
French Communists Busy.
That the "francais moyen" (the
man in the street, knows little about
the United States and her contri-
button to his country is only natural
He gets his information from news
papers which receive more specta-
cular news from the east than from
the other side of the Atlantic. More
over, Americans, apparently follow
ing strict instructions from WASH
ington, do not indulge in "propa-
ganda." This is not considered
proper.
Facts should speak for themselves
and do not need to be emphasized
by propaganda. Washington policy
trainers believe. The Russians dc
not have the same scruples. More
over, they hold a trump card which
we do not possess-the French Com
munist Party, with all its ramifi-
cations and legion of sympathizers,
The French Communists are
working untiringly to clinch the
Russian hold on the country. They
realize that the French may react
if pushed too far, and this explains
the care with which the Communist
Party, which has inf1ltrated deeply
into all phases of this country's
life is handling the situation.
The Communist Politbureau in
Paris is most anxious to appear
nationalistic. The official party
newspapers seldom, if ever, mention
Prime Minister Stain or other dig
nitaries of the U. S. S. r. When
they do speak about them it is al
ways in connection with some i'm
portant piece of news. The same