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CHAPTER V
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING US SECURITY
1. General.
orientation is overwhelmingly to the west.
After the UK, France is at present the most
This fact was emphasized by the Communist
defeat in the cantonal elections of 20 and 27
valuable ally available to the US in the event
March 1949.
of a war with the USSR, but as matters now
stand, France could be overrun by Soviet
3. Economic Factors.
forces in a few weeks. Politically, on the
other hand, France and the nations with
Being essentially individualistic, France, de-
which it is associated, and those with which
spite some large-scale industrial operations by
it is likely to associate itself voluntarily, are
the government, continues to be a capitalistic
generally favorable to US foreign policy.
nation with moderate socialistic rather than
France will continue to hold this position be-
Communistic tendencies. The government
cause of its native democratic traditions,
and people will remain fundamentally capital-
which are among the strongest in Europe, and
istic. France is not likely to be attacked mili-
because of the vast benefits which the nation
tarily solely for the purpose of utilizing its in-
is receiving under ERP. France is almost cer-
dustrial and natural resources, although these
tain to become involved in the next major
assets could be made to contribute signifi-
European war, and it is equally certain that
cantly to an enemy's war potential.
the US will again come to its aid. The na-
tion, therefore, despite its present military
4. Military Factors.
weakness, is of considerable importance to US
In view of the current military strength of
security, because of its key geographical posi-
the USSR, both the French Army and air
tion and its pro-Western orientation.
forces are too weak to exert any marked mili-
tary influence in the event of an armed Euro-
2. Political Factors.
pean conflict. However, military planning in
The leftist vote of 1946 in France, predomi-
connection with the Brussels Treaty and the
nantly Communist, represented slightly less
Atlantic Pact calls for the bulk of the Western
than a third of the electorate, but would to-
European ground forces to be furnished by
day be somewhat reduced. It is not believed
France in an attempt, along with the other
that France will voluntarily go Communist
Western Powers, to delay Soviet forces on the
because of the basic, rather than the govern-
Rhine until massive US intervention can make
mental, stability of the nation. Its political
itself felt.
SECRE
57
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"ocrText": "CHAPTER V\nSTRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING US SECURITY\n1. General.\norientation is overwhelmingly to the west.\nAfter the UK, France is at present the most\nThis fact was emphasized by the Communist\ndefeat in the cantonal elections of 20 and 27\nvaluable ally available to the US in the event\nMarch 1949.\nof a war with the USSR, but as matters now\nstand, France could be overrun by Soviet\n3. Economic Factors.\nforces in a few weeks. Politically, on the\nother hand, France and the nations with\nBeing essentially individualistic, France, de-\nwhich it is associated, and those with which\nspite some large-scale industrial operations by\nit is likely to associate itself voluntarily, are\nthe government, continues to be a capitalistic\ngenerally favorable to US foreign policy.\nnation with moderate socialistic rather than\nFrance will continue to hold this position be-\nCommunistic tendencies. The government\ncause of its native democratic traditions,\nand people will remain fundamentally capital-\nwhich are among the strongest in Europe, and\nistic. France is not likely to be attacked mili-\nbecause of the vast benefits which the nation\ntarily solely for the purpose of utilizing its in-\nis receiving under ERP. France is almost cer-\ndustrial and natural resources, although these\ntain to become involved in the next major\nassets could be made to contribute signifi-\nEuropean war, and it is equally certain that\ncantly to an enemy's war potential.\nthe US will again come to its aid. The na-\ntion, therefore, despite its present military\n4. Military Factors.\nweakness, is of considerable importance to US\nIn view of the current military strength of\nsecurity, because of its key geographical posi-\nthe USSR, both the French Army and air\ntion and its pro-Western orientation.\nforces are too weak to exert any marked mili-\ntary influence in the event of an armed Euro-\n2. Political Factors.\npean conflict. However, military planning in\nThe leftist vote of 1946 in France, predomi-\nconnection with the Brussels Treaty and the\nnantly Communist, represented slightly less\nAtlantic Pact calls for the bulk of the Western\nthan a third of the electorate, but would to-\nEuropean ground forces to be furnished by\nday be somewhat reduced. It is not believed\nFrance in an attempt, along with the other\nthat France will voluntarily go Communist\nWestern Powers, to delay Soviet forces on the\nbecause of the basic, rather than the govern-\nRhine until massive US intervention can make\nmental, stability of the nation. Its political\nitself felt.\nSECRE\n57"
}