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    "seq": 48,
    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "44\nSECRET\never, that France might emerge again as a\nverses suffered there by both France and the\ngreat power. Their belief was based on the\nUK at the hands of the Nazis. Moscow was\nnation's geographical position, its highly\nkept informed of the negotiations as they pro-\ntrained and intelligent technicians, and its\ngressed and the French Communists gave their\neconomic organization and resources.\nsupport in the knowledge that similar agree-\nAfter the Liberation, France's foreign rela-\nments would be offered to the Kremlin and to\ntions were conditioned by its economic neces-\nthe satellite states of Poland and Czechoslo-\nsities, its policy towards Germany, and by the\nvakia, as well as to Belgium and the Nether-\nUS-USSR polarization of world power. These\nlands.\nconsiderations have caused French foreign\nThe four basic points of the Dunkerque alli-\npolicy to be directed toward a course progres-\nance are as follows: (1) The two countries\nsively favorable to US security interests. The\nagree to take such common measures as are\nalliances and agreements in which the French\nnecessary should Germany adopt a policy of\nGovernment has participated with its Western\naggression or take any initiative that may\nEuropean neighbors and the US during the\nthreaten the security of either nation. (2) If\npast two years have gradually strengthened\neither nation is again at war with Germany\nFrance's international position, have brought\neach will immediately furnish military aid\nthe country a promise of security, and have in-\nwhether or not the hostilities are the result of\ncreased its strategic value to the US. Other\nGerman action, common UK-French action\naspects of the nation's affairs, however, such\nagainst Germany, or orders promulgated by\nas its unfavorable foreign trade position, cer-\nthe UN Security Council. (3) Both nations\ntain phases of its German policies, and the\nagree to consult if Germany fails to fulfill\nrapid change of governments, continue to be\nobligations of an economic nature imposed by\nimportant weaknesses in France's interna-\nproper authority. (4) Both nations will con-\ntional economic and political position.\nsult regarding all economic questions of mu-\ntual interest.\n2. Relations With the UK.\nDevelopments throughout 1948 showed a\nConcurrent with its policy of seeking secu-\nrecognition in the UK and in France of the\nrity from the Western Hemisphere have been\nmutual dependence of the two nations. This,\nFrance's efforts to strengthen its position in\nhowever, did not prevent the French from de-\nWestern Europe. The signing of the Dun-\nvaluating their currency unilaterally, and at\nkerque Treaty with Great Britain on 1 March\nsome cost to the UK, despite the Bretton Woods\n1947 was the first major step in this direction.\nAgreement. In midsummer, however, the\nThe protestations of Mr. Bevin in Parliament\nBritish made a substantial loan to France to\nand M. Bidault in the National Assembly that\nbe used for trading in the Sterling Area. More\nthe projected fifty-year military alliance was\nrecently, the British extended substantial\nnot designed as an anti-Soviet measure leading\ndrawing rights to France under the ECA Pro-\nto the formation of a Western European demo-\ngram. Despite adverse foreign trade develop-\ncratic bloc are noteworthy in the light of sub-\nments the UK is expected to extend such assist-\nsequent events.\nance to France again during 1949-50. Rela-\nThe pact was drawn in respect to Articles 52\ntions have also been improved by the UK policy\nthrough 54 of the United Nations Charter.\nof supporting the French position in North\nThese Articles permit \"enforcement actions\"\nAfrica.\nby nations directly concerned without their\nbeing required to seek authorization of the\n3. Relations With Benelux.\nSecurity Council, provided such actions are\nWhile closely tied to the Benelux nations by\ndirected against former enemy states. The\ngeographic and cultural relationships, France\nagreement was therefore primarily directed\nuntil recently has been somewhat in the po-\nagainst Germany and this was emphasized by\nsition of a poor relative. These countries, with\nthe fact that the instrument was signed at\nconsiderable justification, were rendered un-\nDunkerque, made famous by the military re-\neasy by France's continuing economic insta-\nECRET"
}