Oldal 5 [5]
June
— page fíve é
The improvement of the athmosphere is aiso felt in the
field of re-armmament, where finally the work is startinge It is
already clearly visible, that France is recuperating in the field
of foreign policye A policy of more strength and independence will
show, While the friendship to the UBg will remain the basis of
this policy, the relations will show greater independence, espe¬
cially in two fields in which Pinay will undertake major actions
@s soon as he can gain some time from his pressing political tasks.
The first of these is Indo-China. Here the French posi¬
tion has deteriorated rapidly to an alarming degree. Though this
is not officially admitted, French losses have become to heavy to
bear, The financial burden has recently exceeded the two billio
a day mark, something beyond the bearing capacity of the country.
There are grave munition shortages at a time, when the Vietminh
side sees its supplies daily increasing. The situation is so grave,
that objective military observers have reported, that before the
end of the summer the road Hanoi-Hoiphong might be cut - thus iso=
lating a huge french force* If that be the case, a major anti¬
communist defeat should be feared in Indochina. With this perspec¬
tive before the eyes, the French now intend to put the question
squarely to the United States, They will point out, that at the
present rate the daily consumption of munitions in Indochina ex¬
ceeds the total production of French industry, and will demand
that a clear reply be given on what supplies could be ghipped to
them. Because, if these should npt be sufficient, the *rench would
be compelled to start negociayions with the Vietminh, in view of
the furser impossibility of the situation.
The second point on which some clear and fortright speach
will be needed is North Africa. The French charge, that the Ameri¬
can Consular Agents in Morocco, Algier and Tunis are supporting
moraliy and financially the Arab Nationalists against the French.
They say that they have ample evidence to support this charge.
And they intend to demand, in the most clear language, that Ameri¬
ca should stop its interventions in the field and should give
France clear cur gaurantees that these things would no more mccur,
If such a promise should not be obtained, the French would send
those forces, which they are supposed to integrate into the Euro¬
pean Army, to North Arfrica, in order to maintain the ¥rench power
there.
These are the two points on which a strong policy will
be called for. And Pinay seems well decided to do so.
By a policy of reasonable strength in all fields Pinay
hopes to assure a lasting recovery of the country in a relatively
short time, And, as of today, he looks as if he had a fighting
chance to succeed. :