DIALOGUS - Charles de Gaulle - Acceptance Letter

Acceptance Letter
from Charles de Gaulle
to the Publisher

Charles de Gaulle
I've never been quite understood by the English-speaking world. Hence I'm very thankful to Sinclair Dumontais and Dialogus for giving me this opportunity to answer the questions that might come from that side of the planet.

At first, during the London days at the beginning of WWII, after Churchill had launched me as a soap brand in the media, I enjoyed the romantic image of the lonely fighter of a lost cause. Behind the fear of being next, could Britain avoid feeling a tiny bit amused by the sight of France, the historic rival, brought to its knees by Hitler? The Free France (la France Libre) was a country of only few citizens, and those were generously sheltered by Churchill in London, but they maintained France into the World War.

Then, during the Algiers day, after I brought the French Empire back into the common struggle against the Nazis, from 1943, the free French had become the fighting French and Churchill and Roosevelt portrayed me as a potential dictator, nearly as bad as the Führer himself, and tried to force me into a joint command (with another general, recycled from Vichy!) over Combating France (la France Combattante).

Churchill and Roosevelt were indeed very annoyed by my constant and fierce obstruction to their taking advantage of the occupation of mainland France and to their taking control of the French Empire. I know it: they admitted it in my face.

Eventually, after the D-day, despite the fact Jean Moulin had created, in France, in my only name, and at the cost of his life, what he called a "coherent army of airborne troops already in place", the French Resistance, in spite of the fact that every trade union and every political party in the country had officially accepted me as their leader for the Liberation of the motherland, Roosevelt thought America could simply rule France for a while, until elections could be organised. I eventually convinced him otherwise, and I could lead liberated France to the next elections, in 1946. I was not even a candidate, in those elections. Is that your typical dictator's behaviour?

I am immensely grateful to Britain and America for their help during WWII, I admire them for their victory, but I've seen too much of their double-talks not to know those countries are far from trust-worthy. That probably explains why I have always proven a turbulent ally in NATO, after France called me back to power in 1958. That explains why I've always refused the entry of Britain in Europe. That explains why I've always promoted France's voice, as every leader in the world should promote his country's voice, as an alternative to the voice of the English-speaking world, that forms the most powerful empire known to History (as yet), but that shows a strong tendency to disregard everything the big outside thinks, says or feels.

But make no mistake: France is on the same side as the English-speaking countries, and I am a genuine friend of the English-speaking world. And friends are here not to always agree with each other, but to warn each other, when someone is going too far.

Please do not hesitate in contradicting me: I'll be happy to prove you that native English-speakers are often wrong. For the hate mail, please use the same address.

Charles "pain in the neck" de Gaulle

				Acceptance Letter from Charles de Gaulle to the Publisher




Charles de Gaulle				I've never been quite understood by the English-speaking world. Hence I'm very thankful to Sinclair Dumontais and Dialogus for giving me this opportunity to answer the questions that might come from that side of the planet. At first, during the London days at the beginning of WWII, after Churchill had launched me as a soap brand in the media, I enjoyed the romantic image of the lonely fighter of a lost cause. Behind the fear of being next, could Britain avoid feeling a tiny bit amused by the sight of France, the historic rival, brought to its knees by Hitler? The Free France (la France Libre) was a country of only few citizens, and those were generously sheltered by Churchill in London, but they maintained France into the World War. Then, during the Algiers day, after I brought the French Empire back into the common struggle against the Nazis, from 1943, the free French had become the fighting French and Churchill and Roosevelt portrayed me as a potential dictator, nearly as bad as the Führer himself, and tried to force me into a joint command (with another general, recycled from Vichy!) over Combating France (la France Combattante). Churchill and Roosevelt were indeed very annoyed by my constant and fierce obstruction to their taking advantage of the occupation of mainland France and to their taking control of the French Empire. I know it: they admitted it in my face. Eventually, after the D-day, despite the fact Jean Moulin had created, in France, in my only name, and at the cost of his life, what he called a "coherent army of airborne troops already in place", the French Resistance, in spite of the fact that every trade union and every political party in the country had officially accepted me as their leader for the Liberation of the motherland, Roosevelt thought America could simply rule France for a while, until elections could be organised. I eventually convinced him otherwise, and I could lead liberated France to the next elections, in 1946. I was not even a candidate, in those elections. Is that your typical dictator's behaviour? I am immensely grateful to Britain and America for their help during WWII, I admire them for their victory, but I've seen too much of their double-talks not to know those countries are far from trust-worthy. That probably explains why I have always proven a turbulent ally in NATO, after France called me back to power in 1958. That explains why I've always refused the entry of Britain in Europe. That explains why I've always promoted France's voice, as every leader in the world should promote his country's voice, as an alternative to the voice of the English-speaking world, that forms the most powerful empire known to History (as yet), but that shows a strong tendency to disregard everything the big outside thinks, says or feels. But make no mistake: France is on the same side as the English-speaking countries, and I am a genuine friend of the English-speaking world. And friends are here not to always agree with each other, but to warn each other, when someone is going too far. Please do not hesitate in contradicting me: I'll be happy to prove you that native English-speakers are often wrong. For the hate mail, please use the same address. Charles "pain in the neck" de Gaulle