The Gaullist-Communist Deadlock
Dugan, Paul
The Gaullist-Communist Deadlock By Paul Dugan THE USSER has no good reason at this time to provoke the Western powers directly by attempting to extend its rone of penetrans to the Channel and the...
...Let's Look at the Record The Issues in the New York City Mayoralty Campaign By John L. Childs THE struggle to determine the patterns ei this year'a municipal cam-paign* began last January...
...political vitslity can no longer be measured by voles—at leant not in Kurnpe...
...infiltration and de-"•oraliz^tion...
...The foregoing conversation was held in Washington on January 19...
...Many other [twips and parties lost their best and bravest nen during those yearn, but none more systematically exploited tjie memory of its dead Ir political purposes than the Thorez-Marty krvii...
...ami in aiimr way»i Ihr ni ?-1 aeiiMaliunal nf Ihr Hiarovrriea through vt hn h man has IrarnrH In harneaa Ihr force* "I nature...
...They will, however, use democratic means to achieve their own ends, such as maintaining the General in power or reducing the Communists to impotence...
...According to these observers, the French «¦muniste, through their own organizations, eth civil and miliary, through the unions inder their control, and through the resistance...
...is doubtful that in a , lisis or even at election-time many Nationalist* will sup-pert the extreme left...
...J -^Only after the efforts of eminent leaders of the Democratic Party to get their local organization to accept a good government candidate failed did O'Dwyer become the candidate...
...produrr results, as the CP does...
...Actually Gaullism has become, politically and socially, very much what it was at the outset, in 1!)40, many months before the (Jeneral first decided to move toward the left in order to consolidate his movement and anti-German resistance...
...The terord of these eight months throws a lot of light, on the present situation...
...Hf, like practically the entire country, ¦<*sred from Yiehy...
...That is why they are intensely "imperialistic" and will support de Gaulle to the bitter end in his struggle to maintain the territorial integrity of the French Kmpire...
...dominated by them or by fellow-travel-«, might have been able to seize power dur-wl the summer of 1944: actually no nationwide ittempt was made, and (Jeneral de Gaulle's lljiers Government was able to move in with-it too much trouble...
...Are the Socialists forced lo adopt this hesitant, if »et incoherent policy because ef inherent weakness...
...C—The Liberal Party GoldsteinMc Goldrick-Pette ticket was formed through the initiative and active support of Comptroller McGoldrick, a man who knows the groups required to achieve it...
...7—The election of the Goldstein M< Goldrick-Pette ticket will grcait* strengthen the position of honest lib eralism...
...The Liberal Party I* the only Party which haa organised a comprehensive program for our city in this crucial postwar period...
...Facing that -!·> percent is another 25 percent—the Com Munists and their many affiliated groups...
...But these Gaullists were also Communists, Socialists, Catholics, Liberals, Conservatives, even patriotic reactionaries, and many were entirely non-political in their outlook...
...As the Austrian and German Social-Democrats learned not so many years ago...
...People never like to lose money, and there are less risks with the General than with the "left...
...This ticket has the support of the Citizens' Union, the Cftiteni...
...In the ranks of present-day Gaullists will also Ire found a fair proportion, perhaps even a majority, of the propertied classes, among them many farmers...
...It had started long before that, ever since the 'rtnch CP, in the dark days of June and July, .941, rallied to the call of Russia and .sacrificed lundreds of its militants in the struggle against >rmany...
...There arr only two ways out of the present -internale in Frsnre: either the Gaullists or the Communists disappeai from the political scene, by coercion, persuasion or rapid decline, or the Center Party, under the guidance uf a determined group of leaders conscious of the aigniftcance of Its mission and lirnily opposed to the spirit of compromise with any authoritarian or totalitarian group, assume* the responsibility of government Only such an increasingly strong Liberal Social iat Party could afford Rnrope and the world some protection against the rlska of an adventurist French foreign policy or the consolidation of Stallnlal influence on the east shore of the Atlantic and the north shore of the Mediterranean...
...O-Not only the worst elements in Tammany, with their underworld connections, but the political machine of Marcentcnio .and Mike Quill played an active part in bringing about the situation which got the nomination for O'Dwyer...
...This, In sum, is the record...
...lit replied that this should not be difficult, for many Democrats weee tired of the "thieves of Tammany" and wanted tjwrr Party to have candidates in New York City of the same quality as their »tate snd national candidates...
...In the same way the CoinniunKtLe ran also rely on many former lUdiual-Soeialtat votes...
...In fact, ose French observers feel that the French 'onununists have been warned against any eflnite action that might compromise the [remlin'e relatione with the West...
...The I'npulairr is technically one of the norst pspcr.i in France (il haa always been that) and Socialist propaganda on a large scale Is cons pic uoua by its absence...
...And this center majority, which could take the lead and increase its influence considerably at the expense of both right and left, is politically and even ideologically so inhibited, so terrorized, thst it allow* itself Instead to lie deeply penetrated by the conflicting ideologies of the two enemies...
...I.jiisII.sM oiaiiiiiiiiisl Deadlock Church intp account—pronounced Gaullist parties of this type represent at present tame 25 percent of public opinion la very rough estimate...
...That faith may he difficult to achieve in a country as ill-fated as Frame...
...As Charles C. Burlingham has written, "Who can doubt that his candidacy merely offers an escape for simple souls whose chief concern is to keep their own voting record clean and pure, however futile their voles may be...
...Many of them would prefer democratic methods to achieve those aims, but a powerful group within the movement does not believe in democracy...
...both those affiliated to the mam (Bhun) body and the others, the Radical "•cWlsts, various similar groups end "?*· moderate Catholics...
...They all h-jve •strong politftal tradition and relatively Wore governni.oi experience than the NetitmarJst right and the Stalinist "left...
...the other half tjli lavthe passive, ¦¦vociferous half which used to govern the country...
...Little • known in Paris of the actual operational, aot electoral, strength of the Socialist Party today...
...they realize that, force will remain the decisive factor...
...De Gaullists and the Stalinists may well \u> bound to each other much more closely than they would like to admit...
...in Ujjs spectacular fashion no *Obt...
...It is a majority of the country which is deprived* of a voice in national affairs by the two warring factions—Gaullist and Stalinist...
...The bloody shocks of fil ? in and 1939-45 have been too much for Frame's faith...
...It is all part of the war of position, mich will reach its climax in the national lections...
...Nothing in th* actual record supports this argument, and President Roosevelt himself repudiated It on three occasions when confronted by a choice between Fusion and Tammany candidates...
...Mayor LaGuardia bolted his own Party, the American Labor Party, and its candidate, stating that he had told O'Dwyer "if he came out as th* candidate of these bosses" he would support an independent ticket A—The Mayor's candidate, Newbold Morris, has no chance for election...
...But sooner or later, if hy some chance the democratic process in France is not destroyed in the meanwhile, France should And its traditional political equilibrium again: a Center Party in power, the impenitent right being reduced to its normal function of a small nationalist and ronservn tive opposition, and the obdurate left, mainly Stalinist, reassuming its usual role of damning the Government...
...They are determined politically to destroy each other, yet they need »•ach other, for each "justifies" the other's political ideology and maneuvers...
...Kveryone in France was "Gaulliste" in 1944, to the extent that he did not like the Nazis and hoped, in many cases fought for, allied victory...
...From that time on the truggie for position between the two factions in not ceased...
...Irs ago, of determining the degree of u man's Gaullism, was to question him orr the Syria-Lebanon crisis...
...It is because its recommendations of such outstanding men as Judge Rosemann, Comptroller McColdriek, Judge Goldstein and J udge Pecora were not acceptable to "the hoys in the district club houses" that the Liberal Party finally refused to make common cause with the Democratic Party...
...Ev - -··-"mary of it put* a number of crucial points beyond dispute in the present city campaign...
...fes* heroic also in most cases, ">»n the career officers of the BCRA ami ltl* Deuxiemc Bureau and the Commu-"'•ts of the FTP...
...Ralph Barten Perry rVo/ejIor...
...The SP rejected fusion with the Stalinists but it is still hound to them by the United Front policy and by election bargains...
...then there is jo justification for de Gaulle's role as a guard-an of Western Civilization against the Red Menace...
...and it« dr aliurlivr uara havr reached a point at which it hemme» absolutely imperative, even in Iba intrr rat nf hair aurvival, that Ihrrr ahall be a aorial ami intrllrrlual control whirh will guarantee that Ihin ?··,» ? i> devoted to good enda...
...They rightly believe that France has a great role to play in the postwar world...
...Thus de Gaulle seems to be deriving part of his strength from the reaction to what may be at present a non-existent threat, while I he Communists in turn find themselves reinforced by the presence of the (Jeneral at the helm...
...they too rallied, resisted •wl wd...
...We have never had good government in New York City without the support of the Republican Party...
...No wonder many observers call this tendency Bonapartism...
...Movements and "fronts," including those •T' the Socialists (they are many) who wtn always prefer a Communist to any "bourgeois," because the Communist is "store to the leit...
...Gaullism is Rtrongly attracting non-CoAtriunist or auti ? Oinmuiiist Socialists...
...The SP thus lc.iv...
...Only as liberals make the Liberal Party the balance ef power party in New York City and Stale ran they have ¦ political instrument suited to the achievement el their deeper purposes and long-run objectives...
...All told -and taking the support of the SOCIAL CONTROL OF ATOMIC POWER | I Ml ? I umir l>..ml, r a ixen nothing which ia urn in principle...
...Certainly they will get a lot of votea in the elections, hut the unholy double alliance will probably still be in force, and it will be difficult to assess the leal strength of the party from the reaults...
...On the basis of this record the election of the ? ioldstein Met loldrick-Pett* ticket should ha an active concern of SVtry liberal friei...
...But the question is whether it can operate in this sense ¦/ nil...
...Itul in France, as snywhers else, a Center Party could undertake Its task only with some degree of faith in ils own message—th* traditional message of the Western World—liberty snd justice for all...
...At the jnauruial Of President Roosevelt, I WIS approached by an eminent national {tam* ratio leader of New York City...
...Helping the country to recover physically will help to restore France's belief in the western world, There is nothing she needs more...
...the defeat of 1940 still smarts...
...It ia^flttittedly the dynamic half, in control of all the real centers of strength in the country...
...The Communists make their presrnce felt constantly and everywhere...
...Ib.- Center Parly, a coalition nf the IIei not Blum forces, around which would rally many smaller groups and which would propose to re-establish the Republic at home by democratic means and French prestige abroad by a measured and dignified foreign policy, may not be realized after the coming elections, nor even for some years to come...
...Ii ix Ihr...
...Radical-Socialists are being used by the Communists against de Gaulle, while...
...Neither party has the support of the mass of the people...
...Probably not...
...If he defended French policy wholeheartedly he was a 100 percent Gaullist...
...If-Stalin dees not at this time want his arty's flag raised over France, reason some benehmen, if the French Communists are not tat at present to seize power, they arc in busies.* to prevent de (laulle from extending his »wer too dangerously...
...Since then, there have lieen more and more subdivisions, and "pure Gaullism" is practically extinct as a popular lorce, although many newspapers are still "Gaullist" and although great crowds still turn out when the General goes to town...
...At the same time the Socialists constitute both object i and subjectively a Government party, "supporting the General more or less wholeheartedly in his policy and decisions...
...Though "National < oiuiritroism" ha* been dominant in t l' propaganda for njaov years except, during the 19?9 41 interludet...
...Rut one way of helping people to have faith in themselves is to hsve faith in them snd to help them in their hour of need...
...Mmi'n pnaaraaion of power in no ·¦> Kuaranlrra iliai hr will ii«r it wrll...
...I government in our City...
...Such therefore are the two movements which dominate political life in France: st the very most halt of the population ¦•represented...
...Gaullism today is a Government-inspired movement, a coalition of parlies rather than a party, which rallies, under the slogan "I,a France seule" or "Le parli de la Grandeur...
...Those who know the full facts know that O'Dwyer, if elected, will be inescapably indebted to these forces...
...For in a country divided as France is into three political components—Nationalist Konapartist right, Liberal-Socialist renter, Stalinist "left" it seems obvious that both the right and the left can wield power only by coercion, against the two other groups, while only the ('enter ran form a slabie, democratic Govei iiiiieot...
...The SP would be, according to some critics, if il were not tied into such hopeless knots by its policy of double allegiance to the Stalinists in the name of labor unity and to the Gaullists in the name of national unity...
...France...
...nationalist Frenchmen of all clases who are eager above all to rebuild a strong France and to keep Communism east of the Rhine...
...Non-Partisau Committee, and the City Fusion Party— the very forces which broke the grip of Tammany over our City twelve years ego...
...But if there is no real "ommunist threat in France now...
...A good way, nonunion...
...The 'leaders of the Liberal Party have been ' involved ever since in the work of or--faniilng a good government ticket...
...It is not yet clear whether the Socialists have missed their opportunity entirely...
...They distrust and dislike intensely either England or America or both...
...IIa leadership ia desperately weak, which explains in part the dominating position of Leon Ilium It is a good vote-attracting parly, but can it "operate...
...They all hate Germany and are generally afraid of Russia...
...It is a tortured logic which holds that we must suffer corrupt Tammany government in New York City in order to have progea-•ive government in our Stat* and Nation...
...TM» leader said that the Liberal ami Baa erratic partise had cooperated with ajbmdld reatdta in the national cam-paign of 1044, and he hoped the two parties would also cooperate in the New York Cdy campaign of 11)46 I replied ejfcat'tae Liberal Party was willing to ruse erste with either, or both, of the major parties providing they were will-inf to support a good government ticket...
...Bonapartism in France in 1945...
...But it eahalf divided acaiiytitaeW., So what...
...to the Communists the tremendous moral benefit of being the only labor opposition in a country in which starvation is always ?usi around the coiner...
...They are not hostile to planning, which increases the power of the State, but they are not prepared to go very far in the direction of nationalization...
...The Gaullist-Communist Deadlock By Paul Dugan THE USSER has no good reason at this time to provoke the Western powers directly by attempting to extend its rone of penetrans to the Channel and the Atlantic...
...Yet the CP ia not a free agent...
...and they hope that France will lack neither the material strength nor the political prestige to play not only a great, but a major part in many parts of the globe...
...But they still are rep-r***nt*tive* of the French people as a whole, the long-suffering French people, which, in the present emergency remain almost wholly inarticulate...
...from left to right, the So-ciaiiats...
...And if de Gaulle no longer playe 1 a "reponderant part oh the political scene, the Ommunists would find it much harder to keep II of their political clientele, many of whom re supporting the "leftest" party only because they are afraid of de Gaulle's personal ambitions as well as his "reactionary" social outlook...
...Undoubtedly great number* of 'ranchmen are still inspired in their Bolshevik illegiance by the discipline, unselfishness and [Uiet heroism of the many individual young 'ommunists who went to their deaths during hose three long years, 1941-44...
Vol. 28 • October 1945 • No. 40
