OCR
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, especially 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 position 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 anticommunist defeat should be feared in Indochina. With this perspective 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 exceeds 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 American 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 America 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 European 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. :