Evening star., 1951-03-28
President AurioIs Visit

This Capital CITY, Jogetner WIN tne NatlOn
at large, extends a wholehearted welcome today
to President Vincent Auriol of France Accom-
panied by his wife and Foreign Minister Robert
Schuman, he has come to visit us at crucial
moment in the affairs of the world, and in so
doing he has demonstrated in way that the
Kremlin ought not to overlook, that the more
things change, the more it seems that Franco
American relations remain the same-as solid,
as strong, as warmly loyal as in the days OF
Washington and Lafayette -
The Soviet Union has tried its best to shat
ter those relations, and it is still trying Its OBJ
jective is to drive wedge between France and
the United States in order to wreck the common
front being built up under the Atlantic Pact to
defend Western Europe and the rest OF the free
world against the threat of Red aggression But
France-one of the most important OF the pact's
MEMBERSHIPS made clear through number Of
high spokesmen that the wedge drivers are vast
ing their time and that no Russian threats or
maneuvers will be able to crack or weaken its
historic, time-t tried fundamental unity with us.
That point has now been heavily under
scored by Mr. Auriols precedent-setting visit
the first ever made by French President to
these shores. Throughout his distinguished
career-as a member Of Parliament an expert
on public law, a finance authority, and cabinet
minister-Mr. Auriol has always stood fast on
the side of freedom, riskng his life for it during
the Naz occupation in the Second World War,
when he was key figure in the resistance move
ment headed by General De Gaulle. Today, in
his capacity as Frances chief of state, he is as
dedicated as ever in his opposition to tyranny
and in his determination to have his country
play major role in the allied effort to preserve
Western civilization.
Moreover by virtue of his office-to which he
was elected in 1947 for a seven-year term-Pres-
ident Auriol represents the kind of national unity
that is needed to keep his country steady
on the course set by the Atlantic Pact. Premiers
and cabinets have come and gone with dizzying
frequency, but under his presidency-which is
immune to sudden change-France has been con-
siderably more stable than has been suggested
by the headlines about its falling governments.
The record of its great economic recovery under
the Marshall Plan Is proof enough of that, and
additional proof can be found in its current re-
armament effort and its brave, unf1inching stand
against the Kremlin-serving Reds in Indo-China.
Actually as result of its recovery, France
has moved far toward regaining its historic posi-
ton of leadership in Western Europe and with
potentially revolutionary measures like Foreign
Minister Schuman'S plan for siX-nation COAL
and-steel merger, it has shown that 1t hopes to
put that leadership to work for the strengthen
ing of the entire Atlantic community. Certainly,
when it's rearmament is complete it can be
factor of vital significance in the world balance
of power-an ally of the utmost Importance in
freedoms struggle against tyranny. In effect, by
visiting us at this juncture President Auriol has
served notice on the Red totalitarians that that
is precisely what his great country Is resolved
to be-