Into the tapestried Salle des Fetes of the Elysee Palace one morning last week filed 200 of the French Community's most eminent soldiers, scholars and politicians. Solemnly the glittering assemblage heard the president of the provisional Constitutional Council read off the results of last month's presidential elections. At his last words"I proclaim General Charles de Gaulle elected President of the Republic" the guns began to boom out a triumphant salute. "The first among Frenchmen." said retiring President René Coty in a voice heavy with emotion, "is now the first-ranking man in France."
Conscious as he was of the drama of...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
