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

Charles de GauHe's o6lee Is
sued the FOLLOWING last night
as a complete transcript OF
his statements at his mems
conference yesterday. This
Is an UNOFFICIAL English trans
IdtioR OF the French tran
script:
II Is nearly three years since
! have had the pleasure OF see
ing you. In our last meeting
you will remember / told you
OF my predictions and worries
as 10 the probable development
OF events. ana also OF my re-
solve 10 keep silent until the
moment when I might serve the
country by speaking out.
And In truth. since then the
events have become more and
more serious. What has hap
pened in North Africa in the
past four years has been q very
severe trial. What Is happen
ing at this moment in Algeria
with relationship TO France.
and what Is happening In
France with relation to Al
geria. can lead to an extremely
grave national crisis.
But this could also be the
start Of a sort of resurrection.
That Is why I thought that the
moment has come when I might
possibly be of direct use once
again to France.
Recalls Earlier Victory
Why Of use? Because at one
time certain things and French
men know 1t very well, were
accomplished, which the
peoples associated with us (that
is, the peoples in the colonies
and overseasD have not for
gotten. and even abroad 1t is
remembered. Perhaps this sort
OF moral capital can have its
weight In our policy i'm a mo-
ment Of grave confusion in face
Of the difficulties which assail
US and the misfortunes which
menace us.
OF use, also because 1t is
q fact that the party system
has not solved. is not solving,
and will not solve the enor-
nous problems confronting us,
particularly the problem Of as
sociating France with the
countries of Africa, and also
the problem Of q life in common
by the various communities liv-
ing In Algeria, and even prob
lens of harmony within each
Of these communities.
The fact is there. I repeat
that everyone should take note
of this. The battles which are
being waged in Algeria, and the
fever which is bubbling up
there, are only the consequence
Of this failure.
Tied to No Party
And IL things continue as
they are, all of us know per-
fectly well that the system,
such as it is now. will have
to draft programs, manifest in
tentions, even carry out actions
and efforts in various direc-
tions--but there will be no So
luton, and all this while the
risk exists that solutions will
someday be imposed from out
side, a thing which beyond all
doubt would be the most dis
astrous solution possible.
or use, finally, because / am
a man alone, because ] am tied
to no party nor to any organi-
zation, because for six years /
have carried on no political ac-
tivity, because for three years
I have made no statements-in
brief, because I am a man who
belongs to no one and one who
belongs to everyone.
But of use in what way?
Well, II the people wish, as in
the preceding great national
crisis, at the head of the gov
eminent Of the French Repub-
lie.
Answers Questions
This being said, I am ready
now to answer any questions
you may want, to ask. lin a
preliminary statement, an aide
had said the general would an
swer questions concerning Al
geria and French institutions) .
@. General, you have said
that you are ready to assume
the powers of the republic. Just
what did you mean by that?
A. When you assume the
powers of the republic, this can
only be those which the re-
public will have delegated to
you. This is perfectly clear.
Here is the man who pro-
nounced these words.
The republic? There was a
time when it was denied, be-
trayed, by the parties them
selves. And it was 1 who re-
stored its arms, its laws. its
name. ] waged war to achieve
victory for France. and I ar
ranged things in such a way
that this was also the victory
of the republic. / did this with
everyone, without any excep-
ton, who wanted to join me.
Ana, at their head, l re-estab-
lished the republic in its own
mansion.
In its name, for its benefit,
in conformity with its talent,
my government achieved an
immense task of renovation.
Political renovation: the right