In Paris last week a gaunt, leathery career officer acquired, almost unnoticed, more political power than any other soldier on active duty in the Western democracies. By governmental decree, General Paul Ely, 61, Chief of France's National Defense Staff, was given precedence over all French officials save President Charles de Gaulle and Premier Michel Debre. Hereafter, Ely, not the Minister of Defense, will be directly in charge of France's national security; if he chooses, in a time of crisis, Ely can even enter into international negotiations on his own authority.
Behind Charles de Gaulle's decision to grant Ely such sweeping...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
