Abstract

France and Germany

Throughout the long crisis which has just ended with the establishment in power of the "classic right," Germany was the underlying issue of the grave debate. Superficially other problems like Indo-China, North Africa, the share of France in the burden of common defense, were more in the foreground. But to a close observer it was clear that Germany's unification and its integration in the military system of the West remained at the root of the many pressing political difficulties which the formation of the Laniel Cabinet has only postponed. With respect to France, the normal trend of its foreign policy has been distorted by the dilemma in which the country has been placed of either renouncing American aid or yielding to American insistence on a rearmed Germany as the strongest pillar of the Atlantic coalition.