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INCOMING TELEGRAM DEPARTMENT OF STATE-DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS TELEGRAPH BRANCH 5M PLAIN Action: EUR Control 1628 Info se SS Rec'd November 5, 1948 C 1:02 a.m. P SAM OLI FROM: Paris CIA AAN TO: Secretary of State DCL POS NO: 5719, November 4 PA EURX President Truman's victory dominates Parisian press today DCR with all papers giving heavy coverage to election results which they find both surprising and satisfying. Journals of all political colors, and without exception, express pleasure in some degree in decision of American people to return Truman. to White House, each reading into President's victory an approval of one or more aspects of its own political beliefs and aims. That American ?residential race was followed closely by French re- ceives its ultimate expression in Gaullist CE MATIN which declares interest of average Frenchman in Truman-Dewey match rivaled that in Cerdan-Zale battle. Sensational last laugh nature of upset does not escape attention of press, MRP's AUBE running front page cartoon of donkey leading elephant across finish line in race and exclaim- ing happily ",11 your Gallups are not worth my gallop.' French political writers approach winning donkey in manner of blind men approaching elephant in fable, each describing and interpreting democratic victory in his own fashion, and in this case each likes that on which his hand falls from left to right it feels smooth to the touch. Left Wing papers find Truman election a victory for unions and working man. Communist controlled LIBERATION declares in heavy headlines, "American people want peace, they have voted against Dewey". FRANC TIREUR states "they have voted against most reactionary candidate, against Taft-Hartley Law, against restraint of union liberties, against un-American activities committee masquerade, against racial discrimination, against absolute liberty of prices and profits. Even Communist party organ HUMANITE, while declaring "Dewey PLAIN INFORMATION COPY