The Daily Alaska Empire

A Word from Eisenhower
(Cincinnati Enquirer)
General de Gaulle has made it apparent, ever
since the invasion of North Africa began, that he
believes himself alone qualified to act as political
leader of the French people, and that he hopes when
France is reclaimed to administer political reorganization there. His recent victory in the French Committee of National Liberation, the chairmanship of
which he won, is another step in that direction.
But the action of General Eisenhower in Italy,
where the program for control of conquered nations
is being whipped into permanent shape, should not be
particularly encouraging to de Gaulle's aspirations.
It is to be presumed that Italy is serving now as a
proving ground for tactics which will be followed in
the administration of other reconquered European
countries. The Eisenhower announcement, then, can
be looked upon as indicating the plan which probably
will be made effective in France in the not too
distant future.
General Eisenhower has made it clear that the
Allied Military Government, which now controls South
Italy and Sicily, gradually will be replaced by an
Italian administration. But he made it equally clear
that this does not mean the country soon will be
placed under full Italian control. He has appointed
a committee which will see to it that the district is
governed according to terms of the armistice, and
will work to fit the Italian economy into the Allied
military program.
This move should show General de Gaulle that
the Allied nations do not plan to turn over to him
-or to any other French leader--full control of
France until the time is ready for such action. So
long as military necessity demands, the administra-
tion will remain in the hands of Allied military
leaders. Then the French people themselves will be
given the right to select their own government, with-
out undue coercion from any quarter.
General de Gaulle has not proven himself, to date,
a genius in the field of politics. His attitude often
has been overbearing and unpleasant. He has won
some French support, particularly in North Africa,
but there is nothing to indicate that that support will
continue after the war is won and conditions return
toward normalcy. In a way, General Eisenhower's
announcement of Italian administration is an answer
to General de Gaulle's implied questions and demands.
And it was forceful enough even for the French leader
to understand.