Some Permanent Aspects of French Policy

a millennial military glory, one of the foremost military powers in the world, suddenly sustains the most staggering defeat in its history; when all the things it has stood for suddenly seem abandoned, and for a while it looks as if it were taking a special, almost masochistic, pleasure in rolling in the dust and denying its own achievements; when a great nation like France goes through all that, it is not altogether surprising that the world outside should promptly form certain strong judgments. But there is danger in oversimplification and in saying, Well, every dog has his day. Nations, like individuals, have their ups and their downs. Probably France has fulfilled her historical mission and the inevitable period of decay has set in for good. I think that is a very shortsighted, foolish view and a very dangerous one, indeed. If you probe the past of France, and if before you attempt to form any judgments on her present position you put certain developments against her historical background, you will see that the catastrophe is not really as surprising as all that. You will also see that the developments that have taken place since the disaster are encouraging, and I hope you will agree that there is a future for France

Political science · European Socioeconomic and Political Studies