PT Jan-67 - Herbert W. Armstrong Library and Archives

The PLAIN TRUTH
French productivity has increased 36
percent over the last eight years. The
French franc is today one of the
world's soundest currencies with reserves
of over five billion dollars, 80
percent in gold. France has repaid a
total of 871 million dollars on her U. S.
World War 11 debts, leaving a balance
of only 300 mi llion.
D e Gaulle's actions have been variously
described as mysterious, unfathomable,
without pmpose and just
plain ca ntankerous. But are they such
a mystery and arc they without purpose?
B} 110 metms.l
H e is a cool and calcu lated designer
who knows precisely where he IS
headed at all times. Once a few basic
principles of De Gaulle's personal motivations
and his approach to politics
are understood, his actions fall into
clear focus. World statesmen in the
course of their careers seem inevitably
to devise some grand program by which
they can leave their mark on the
world. And De Gaulle is no exception.
He too has his grand design: to reestablish
the grandeur of France, to
make her in to a major power and
leader of European civilization, and to
keep Germany from controlling Europe.
W hile he is a cold-blooded realist
when dealing with the power relationships
between nations, he becomes sud·
denly mystica l when he ponders the
task of re-glorifying France. As he
wrote in his lP'ar Memoirs: "AU my
life I have lhought of France in a
certain way. This is inspired by sentiment
as much as by reason."
The role of Prance is guite clear in
De Gaul1e's eyes, as he said in his
election campaign last year. "This
country ... this France which is regaining
her power ... she is devoting
herself to establishing an equilibrium
in the world. In brief, we are playing
our role, pursuing a vocation whirh
has bee11 OIlI'S for cel1ll1ries.J1
De Gaulle sees himself in a great
father· figure role - one of the last
truly great statesmen in the worldthe
last survivor of the Roosevelt-
Churchi ll-Sta lin era. In the role of a
benevolent big brother, De Gaulle
would offer his good services to the
solution of any of the world's problems
- whether Europe or Viet Narn.
The solution to the European problem
he sees as independence for each nation
under the patronage of France. He
sees each nation as a sovereign identity
- a "nation-state" whose national in­
U rests come ahead of international ties
or abstract ideals.
He applies this principle in dealing
with China and Russia. He sees that by
recognizing Red China, gaining her a
seat in the United Nations, and sup'
plying her with aid in the form of
trade, he strengthens China at the ex·
pense of Russia. The stronger China
becomes, the more pressure is put on
Russia's eastern frontier, to the benefit
of Europe.
Along this same line of reasoning ­
of national identity before all else ­
he insists upon a Europe in the form
of a confeder(lliol1, instead of a full
federation, H e wants an alliance of
individual strong sovereign nations
who hand over only a portion of their
sovereignty to a supranational authority,
D e Gaulle's strong insistence on
having his own way has slowed down
Europe's progress toward unity. This
disunity of Europe, along with
D e Gaulle's ambitions, has thus far
denied Germany the opportunity to rise
up as Europe's strong political leader.
Gambling for High Stakes
De Gau lle is 1101 deilided about the
actual power he has . H e knows that he
is operating from a very limited power
base. But he is making the most of
what he has. Jf De Gau lle doesn't succeed,
it won't be for lack of effort or
purpose. At the moment, he is the
personal force to be reckoned with in
Europe. His biggest weapon is the
strategic importance of France to Europe.
Without the large area, roads,
pipelines and port facilities of France,
a realistic defence of Europe is out of
the question.
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De Gaulle has long realized that if
Ambouodor Collegll Photo
Fre nch President Charles de Gaulle delivers speech at Papeete, Tahiti, before
flag-draped Mayoralty (City Hall) .