Cold War France: Fifth Republic--De Gualle

Figure 1.--DeGualle believed that France would be better off with a more independent foreign policy. He was afraid that the Americans and Soviets were moving toward a nuclear confrontation. Apparently DeGualle decided that France could avoid the danger and secure a better arrangements from the Soviets on their own rarher than as part of a coalition that may have to fight a nuclear war. Strangely for the tenanous World War II opponent of Vichy, it was hauntingly similar to what Pétain invisioned for a defeated France, striking the best deal possible with the NAZIs. Here Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev arrives in France for an extended visit (March 1960). A major goal of Soviet foreign policy was to divide the NATO allies. France was the only NATO to distance itself from the alliannce.

General Charles de Gaulle was called back by the French people (1958). He served as president until 1969. The Constitution was changed, strenhthening the presidency. He solved the Algerian population by withdrawing from Algeria and recognizing the country's independence. Almost all of the French colonists returned to France as well as Algerians who cooperated with France. The Fifth Republic proved much more stable than the Fourth Republic. Not only was there a strong president, but the political parties coalesed into larger units. De Gaulle governed through the Gaulist Party, a center right coalition. President de Gaulle wanted a more independent foreign policy for France. He was concerned about 'dirigism' (an economic doctrine in which the state exerts a strong directive influence) and isolation. Key elements of his foreign policy were nuclear weapons and a new role in NATO (OTAN). DeGualle believed that France would be better off with a more independent foreign policy. He was afraid that the Americans and Soviets were moving toward a nuclear confrontation. Apparently DeGualle decided that France could avoid the danger and secure a better arrangements from the Soviets on their own rarher than as part of a coalition that may have to fight a nuclear war. Strangely for the tenanous World War II opponent of Vichy, it was hauntingly similar to what Pétain invisioned for a defeated France, striking the best deal possible with the NAZIs.

Nuclear Weapons

De Gaulle accelerated the French nuclear weapns program. He was not convinced that the American nuclear umbrella was sufficent. He feared that America would not use its nuclear weapons to protect Europe. He thus believed that full independence required France to have nuclear weapons. France thus became the world's fourth nuclear power. The main delivery system was through submarines. De Gaulle's defence policy was based on the principle that nuclear weapons would render France invulnerable, guaranteeing freedom and peace. The French called this "nuclear dissuasion". France eventually built 700 atom bombs, ranging from 12 kt to 1 megaton. The French submarines each carried 90 nuclear war heads and had the capacity to reach the principal points on the globe. There was widespread agreement within France on this polict, except on the part of the Communists who were influenced by the Soviet Union. The extent of the american resolution seems a not unreasonable question to ask. There is also some reason to believe that the independent French deterent served to complicate Soviet strategic assessments.

NATO (OTAN)

France was one of the founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which became the backbone of the Westrn response to Soviet aggression. The Soviet Union on Stalin's orders had seized control of countrie throughout Eastern and Central Europe, including democratic Czecoslovakia (1948). NATO meant that unlike after World War I, America would not withdraw from Europe. And only American power could stop Stalin and the Red Army. NATO structured the defense of Western Europe primarily around the West German and French armis and military instalations in those two countrie. This was backed up with the merican nuclear umbrella. France ws particularly important because West Hemany had a long bofrder with the Soviet dominated Warsaw Pact. And as a result, West Germany and the military instalations there would feel the full brunt of a Soviet invasion. France as a real area would provide the back up for a miliary response. A crisis in Algeria led to Charles De Gaulle's return to power (May 1958). He was clearly disturbed, despit NATO's success, with the internaldynamic with in NATO. In particular he resented the important role the United States played in NATO and the often-noted special American relationship with Britain. We suspect that his World War II experiences, especially the treatment by President Roosevelt played a role in his thinking. Desatisfaction with NATO was not entirely DeGualle's doing, but he was more determined to take action than other French leaders. Within month of returning to power, De Gualle fired off a memorandum to President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Macmillan (September 1958). In it he argued for a tripartite directorate to direct NATO that would put France on an equal footing with the United States and Britain. Disatisfied with the responses he received, President DeGualle began to construct an independent French defence force. DeGuall was focused on a possibe Soviet invasion and wanted option of reaching a possible separate peace rather than being drawn into a masive NATO-Warsaw Pact war. This of course cut at the heart of the whole idea of NATO. DeGualle never withdrew France from NATO, but began separting the French military command structure. This was a done in a number of derscrete steps. His first step was to withdrew its Mediterranean Fleet from NATO command (February 1959). The majpr steps occurred during the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. President Kennedy's Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, was in France attending a NATO meeting. Preident DeGaulle told him that he wanted all U.S. military out of France as soon as possible. Rusk famously responded "Does that include those who are buried here?"

Germany

A lasting rapprochement was pursued with Germany. Beginning with the Commun Market, France and Germany have persued a new relationhip which has been the cornerstone of the European Union. DeGualle in the aftermath of the War had been skeptical of this reltionship (1945-46), but as President of the Fifth Republic was a strong proponent.

Colonies

France under the Fifth Republic granted independence to most of the remaining colonie ( Africa, Indo-china, Algeria, Madagascar ,ect.. ) Unlike some of the other colonial powers, France did not pull out of many of its former colonies after independence. While France did pull out of its North African colonies, France retaimed a major presence in its sub-Saharan African colonies after indepoendence.

Canada

De Gaulle visited Montréal during the World Fair / Exposition Universelle also commemorating the centennial of the Canadian Confederation (1967). There was in Québec a strong movement promoting independance. Québec has a majority of French speakers and there was sunstantial support for for a kind of separation from Canada, even indepence. At the time there was no important political party advocating separation. There were some extremists whicvh staged terrorist actions. A small left-wing separatist party emerged, "Rassemblement pour l'Indépendance Nationale" (RIN) . When De Gaulle came to Québec (July 1967), he was warmly received along the road from Québec City to Montréal (le chemin du Roy). On the balcony of the Montréal City Hall, he was impressed by the crowd shouting "VIVE LE QUEBEC LIBRE". So he responded with what seemed to be heresy in Canada He shouted "VIVE LE QUEBEC LIBRE" He endorsed the proclamation of an independant state in North America. From that time, Indepoendance is a recurrent theme in any election in Québec. There have been two referendums on tnhe question of Québec independence. The first in 1980 was defeated by 60 percent against and 40 percent for independance. A second referendum in 1995 was near to be a success for "separatists" The "No's" won by just a few votes. A Canadian reader writes, "De Gaulle helped the independance of Québec but Quebequers were always suspicious with French people. Even if we speak French, we are not French. We are something very different from Canadians, French, English or Americans. We are a distinct people."

The Soviet Union

De Gaulle was not a firm ally during the Cold War. He sought to establish a destinct relationship with the Soviet Union. He was less willing to raise the issues of human rights that were raised by the Americans. He was more willing to accept the Soviet Union and attempt to reach agreements with the Soviet Union that were economically beneficial to France. Soviet Primier Khruchev visited Paris in 1960 and signed several economic agreements. More economic agreements were signed in 1964. President de Gaulle visited the Soviet Union in 1966. Not only were these arangements economically beneficial, but De Gaulle sought political benefits. The French Communists were less anle to criticise him as he was cooperating with the Soviets. Quite frankly I do not fully understand De Gaulle's policy. As best I understand it, De Gaulle felt France benefitted by not being fully in the Ameruican camp. Undoubtedly his experience during World War II where Roosevelt and Churchill largely controlled Free French opertations played a factor in creating his workld view. Hopefully our French readers can describe De Gaulle's policies toward the Soviet Union in more detail.

China

France and China in 1963 agree to a rapprochement, creating a third international force in an effort to prevent the 'bipolarisatioin' of the globe.

The Economy

France during the presidency of General de Gaulle (1958-69) was very prosperous. The period wa called ' les trente glorieuses '. The French felt secure at home. A great deal of money was spent on the military. It was during this period , that the plane Concorde with the colaboration of England was built. The bigest and most modern ship of the world ' le France ' was built. He was concerned about the evlving 'dirigism' (an economic doctrine in which the state exerts a strong directive influence). The state's ecoinomic role was developing far beyound a regulatory role.

Created: 4:32 PM 11/4/2018
Last updated: 4:32 PM 11/4/2018