What the French Want

General Charles de Gaulle, a man of rigid dissatisfaction, indicated last week that he was still dissatisfied with "arrangements" between France and her allies. Particularly, Cordell Hull's recent assurances (TIME. April 17) left much to be desired.

The Secretary of State had said that the U.S. was disposed to let the Gaullists "exercise leadership" in the civil administration of liberated France. With good reason, General de Gaulle suspected that this promise left a loophole for dealings with others in France, stuck to his never-deviating demand for exclusive sovereignty.

Did the General realize that some people still had misgivings about his alleged dictatorial inclinations? The General smiled: "An old story. For four years contradictory charges have been made against me and the Committee . . . De Gaulle wanted to be a dictator, he wanted to restore the Third Republic ... he would deliver France to communism or that he was an instrument of the Americans, British or Stalin. I shall not reply save to say that the French would not accept a dictatorship, whether French or foreign. But the French want a government that governs."

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