FUTURE OF FRANCE.

Evening Star, Issue 25422, 1 March 1945, Page 4

FUTURE OF FRANCE.

It is plain from Mr Churchill's statement to the Houso of Commons that though France was not invited to provide a fourth at the " Big Three's " Yaltai conference the importance of °the part which she must play in world resettlement was never for one moment ignored. The first object of the conference was the closer co-ordination of plans for the finishing of the war, which was the " Big Three's " special responsibility. On one important matter, when its deliberations went Ifurther than this, the decision reached was withheld from publication until the views of France could be consulted. It was agreed that she should take over one of the zones of control in Germany to be established after surrender, have a full share in the general regulation of Germany's affairs, and have her place at the San Francisco conference, which is to complete Dumbarton Oaks' plans for world or,der. Geseral de Gaulle should be satisfied with all this, and his absence from Yalta compensated in his mind by his later, possibly retaliatory snub to President Roosevelt, whom he declined to meet elsewhere than in Paris. Both incidents now should be forgotten. No one, it has been said, realises more than General de Gaulle the complete interdependence off the United Nations. As a belligerent, France can fill only a subordinate role while her war wounds leave her still a convalescent; but that does not affect the destiny of her people. That destiny can only be realised in closest co-operation with all the Allies, whose goodwill is not lacking, and pacts made by General de 'Gaulle's Government with Russia, Holland, and Belgium will be most naturally viewed as steps towards the larger agreement. A treaty of alliance between Great Britain and France, supplementary to that between France and Russia, is said to be desired by the governments of both countries. To that end and the removal of all minor misunderstandings the visit of M. Bidault, French Foreign Minister, to London at the British Government's invitation should contribute notably. In his extreme sensitiveness for France's dignity General de Gaulle may be difficult to work with, but for his other qualities he has the extreme admiration of the

British people, who have only regard and a feeling of the strongest possible mutual interests (for his country. Besides co-operation, tho return of Franco to her old influence in tho world's affairs .depended on the healing of her own past social and political divisions, and it is good to read that these are being healed. A few months ago, it is reported, the atmosphere in Paris was one of incipient revolution —the worst of all sequels to a war. Now moderation is the keynote; tho Government is broadly based and accepted by everybody ; • even the Communists are for construction and collaboration. That makes the best augury for the future of France.