Francon Calls De Gaulle's Election Crucial for an 'Independent' France

"De Gaulle alone can govern France today," Marcell Francon, associate professor of French Literature, said yesterday.

Commenting on De Gaulle's decision to seek re-election, Francon, a native of France, explained that "France's foreign problems are so grave that she must have a strong man at the helm." De Gaulle must be re-elected, he said, because "there is no one who could receive at much support from the French people as he probably will."

Among foreign problems cited by Francon were her relations with the Common Market, NATO, and a re-armed West Germany. "Only De Gaulle is strong enough to be Independent of the United State's views on these areas," Francon stated.

Francon feels that U.S. policy is often at variance with France's interest Granting Germany Indirect control over nuclear weapons, for example, would strengthern a nation officially "still at way with France," he noted.

In addition, Francon believes that in the Common Market. "France's agricultural interest is often sacrificed for that of the U.S." In particular, low-priced American poultry would drive French poultry off the market if tariffs were reduced.

Francon is "fairly certain" that De Gaulle will be re-elected. "De Gaulle's opponents are mainly from the extreme right and oppose his domestic policies," he explained.

But he observed that "the masses feel that France's independence is at stake and that without De Gaulle, France would have to follow the American line."

Francon feels that De Gaulle's protege Georges Pompidou, could not replace De Gaulle at this time because of his lesser prestige. Only De Gaulle can "speak for France as a whole," he said.

"De Gaulle's death would be a tragedy," Francon believes, because "he is a kind of savior." Francon thinks that De Gaulle's claim to "represent the spirit of France is fundamentally true."