FRANCE: The Language of Flowers

One of Charles de Gaulle's favorite maxims is that "power does not retreat" —by which he means that his government does not hesitate to take tough decisions. But last week, enmeshed in a showdown struggle with Antoine Pinay, the economic miracle worker of France's Fifth Republic, De Gaulle hesitated before the eyes of the whole world. Twice Pinay was summoned into conference with Premier Michel Debré, twice into discussions with President de Gaulle himself. At last, after a flurry of ambiguous communiques, came the laconic announcement that despite De Gaulle's "appreciation" of...