France: The Power of Choice

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If it should happen Dec. 19 that the French people decide to put General de Gaulle aside, to disown that which is part of their history and—excuse me for believing this—for the present a national necessity . . . this would be an immense misfortune for the country.

That was Charles de Gaulle fighting for his political life on French television last week, apologizing for the views that for seven years he was wont to deliver from his haughty isolation in the Elysée. Instead, a fascinated France saw a new De Gaulle, submitting night after night, for the first time in his life, to the interrogation of a newspaperman—forced to defend his accomplishments as President, to explain his grand designs, reduced to begging for his re-election like any politician.

Madame du Barry. Was he anti-American? Indeed not, insisted De Gaulle. "In truth, who has been the ally of the Americans from end to end if not the France of De Gaulle?" What about fears that he was about to destroy the Common Market? "Nothing is more logical today than to create a common European market," said De Gaulle, though he could not resist adding, "on condition, of course, that it is not adorned with unacceptable political conditions." Then he was opposed to European political unity? "From the time I have been French, I have been European," replied De Gaulle. Then suddenly, France was treated to the spectacle of De Gaulle's hopping around in his chair: "You can jump up and down in your chair like a goat, saying 'Europe! Europe! Europe!' But that means nothing." Had he neglected French needs at home in pursuit of his international ambitions for France? "Nothing has occupied me more than national prosperity," snapped De Gaulle, and began reeling off statistics to prove it.

"Very interesting," remarked François Mitterrand of his opponent's statistics when his turn came on television, "but unfortunately, not exact." Mitterrand made plain his own unequivocal support for the Atlantic Alliance and a truly united political Europe. "It is sad to note," he observed, "how much Gaullism has come to resemble Vichy, with a monarch and a little court." De Gaulle was like Madame du Barry before the guillotine, he said, pleading "Just another moment, just another moment, Mr. Executioner." The force de frappe? "De Gaulle's diplomatic toy, about as effective for France as the Maginot Line in 1940."