Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-05-20
Progmotic Mystic

TTugHIutIC WIStIC
Right-wing extremists are not likely
10 be melted 10 riot by what General
Charles de Gaulle has had 10 say at his
dramatic but vague news conference In
Paris. AT any rate, while supporting
the military and civilian dissidents in
Algeria, he has been careful-as a good
patriot-not TO encourage his followers
to take TO the barbados in an effort
TO put him back into power.
Instead, despite the seemingly
studied ambiguity of some Of his re-
marks, the general has been at pains
to suggest that he is opposed to a solu-
ton by force as a way to deal with
the grave political crisis now gripping
France, especially In relation to Algeria.
And at the same time, while reasserting
his readiness to assume leadership of
the country, he has sought to reassure
everybody that he harborS no dictato-
rial ambitions and would take on
such leadership not as a man on horse
back but only in legal, constitutional
manner.
Thus, as General de Gaulle has put
1t, Have l ever attacked the funda-
mental liberties of the Republic? No,
/ restored them. How could you have
me, at 81, start career as a dictator?"
These are words that have a ring OF
sincerity in them, and although many
people may still deeply suspect his mo-
tives and aims, the mans past record
notably as the heroic and inspiring
leader of the Free French during the
Second World War and as head of the
countrys provisional government In the
id-1940S-certainly supports his dis
avowal Of any desire to become another
Bonaparte or Gallo Hitler or Stain.
True, this So-called mystic with a
Joan Of Arc complex" has aSSailed the
French parliamentary system for the
way in which its multiplicity of self
serving parties has made "criSiS follow
crisis, which is always the same crisis,
for IL years." But one needs to be
neither mystic nor a modern Joan of
Arc to agree with him on that score.
After all, he has merely echoed what
free men everywhere have long been
saying about the divided National AS
sembly's paralyzing effect on sound
executive action in Paris, where some
two dozen governments have risen and
fallen with dizzying rapidity since the
end of the war.
Presumably, If he were invited to
replace Premier Pf1imlin-a possibility
which he himself apparently regards as
remote because of the ASSembly'S po-
litical make-up-General de Gaulle
would strive again, as he did while pro-
viSional President of France, to push
through constitutional reforms designed
to give the country'S government a
stable and reasonably strong executive
branch. However, although such a
change is Sorely needed, the outlook for
it seems very dim at the moment. and
his own words indicate that he does
not favor forceful action-such as a
coup supported by the army-to bring
1t about and to act deciSively for a
settlement of such great issues as the
wasting war in Algeria.
In that respect, General de Gaulle
has displayed moderation Of sort that
must make his extremist followers, in
Guiding the diSsident military elements,
wonder about what they should or can
do next, either in Algeria or France
proper. In fact, because of his relatively
temperate attitude, and because of the
great domestic economic boom now
being enjoyed by the French people,
the incipient insurrection conceivably
could peter out faster than seemed pos
sible just few days ago.
If so, however, Paris will still be
city of recurrent crisis unless or until
France shows maturity and wisdom
enough to reshape and discipline itself
constitutionally. Mystical as he may be
in certain other particulars, General
de Gaulle has been altogether prag-
matte and realistic in his calls for such
reform To that extent at least, men
of common sense throughout the free
world are in complete agreement with
him.