Evening star., 1963-01-25
De GouHe's Views

1t was indeed a public
service The Star rendered its
readers by publishing in
English at least the partial
text of President de Gaulle's
recent press conference. With
the New York Times out of
circulation, such comprehen-
sive news from France is
hardly available here unless
one subscribes to French
publications.
Having read the integral
text of De Gaulle's confer
ence, I am amazed at some
of the newspaper and radio
commentators interpreta-
tions Of 1t. Frankly, I do
not find anti-American or
anti-British views in De
Gaulle's allocution as some
of our news media would
lead us to believe. 1 do find,
however, a clear-cut refusal
by the French leader to ac-
cept American or British
policy on European economic
and defense issues without
question.
What could be serious,
would be for Americans to
accept the views of such
political analysts as Prof.
Maurice Duverger, as being
French policy. This we'll
known political scientist is,
in my opinion, at once a
brilliant theoretician and a
propaganda. I once inter-
preted for him on a brief
whirlwind visit of Washing
ton, and discovered a mind
which erects plausible theses
of its own and then fits
everything logically to agree
with said theses, even If the
@. E. D. be way off-base.
1t seems to me that the
articles Of this French
analyst are, in effect, poison
ing Franco-United States re-
lations In France. At the
same time, some of our own
journalists, lacking perhaps
malice, are doing the same
thing here by coloring their
views with sentimental i'm
pressions. The result could be
a serious Atlantic conflict
at the very moment when the
Russian = Chinese affair
should give the West the
initiative.
Lloyd w. Buhrman.
Thank you for printing the
actual text Of the press con-
ference with President de
Gaulle explaining his stand
on Britain's entry into the
Common Market. I Just hope
that all newspapers will run
this so that the Ameri-
can people can get to know
and understand the facts be-
hind his position.
The European Community
is one Of, If not the most,
exciting and almost unbe-
lievable events Of history. In
1858 / had the opportunity
to visit most Of the countries
OF the Common Market and
to listen to the plans, aims
and ideals Of many Of its
leaders. This was before 1t
had become an established
fact and l couldn't help but
feel 1t wouldn't work when
even neighbors in an Ameri-
can community can't get
along. And when I visited
England I was sure II
wouldn't work. England
thought It was a nice dream
but completely unrealistic
and they wanted no part Of
being a member.
Well, It has worked. But It
has taken patience, compro-
mise, planning and hard
work. And now the most diff
ficult hurdle. entry OF agri-
culture into the Common
Market, will take even more
compromising and even more
patience for the six coun-
tries.
The only thing that sur
prises me Is that all six coun-
tries didn't tell England -
when she wanted 10 climb on
the bandwagon- "You had
your chance, now you will
have 10 wait until we settle
a more important issue, adj
justing the entry OF agricul-
ture. then we will see" They
surely had the right, and
have the right, 10 this atti-
tude.
AS in all successful VEN
lures. there is a leader; and
I'm the case Of the European
Community II was France.
And yet, as we all know. II
is only teamwork that wins
the game. The teamwork in
volved In establishing and
working out the fantastic
problems this Community
faced is truly a remarkable
feat. I sincerely hope that
the events caused by Brit