Votez oui, malgr=E9 tout
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1492196,00.html
The French may vote no out of fear. They should vote yes, for their own
sake and ours
Timothy Garton Ash
Thursday May 26, 2005
The Guardian
Fran=E7ais! Fran=E7aises! Ici Londres ... Not since May 1940 has the rest
of Europe looked with such attention and trepidation at what is
happening in France. Sixty-five years ago, it was the future of a
Europe at war that depended on the French. Now, it's the future of a
Europe at peace.
British sentiments on this occasion are more mixed. In 1940, the
British were united in the fervent hope that the French would deliver a
resounding non to the Nazi invaders. At their head was Winston
Churchill, a lifelong Francophile with a deep admiration for French
military prowess. In 2005, probably a narrow majority of the British
mildly hope that the French will say no to the constitutional treaty.
An enlightened minority fervently hope the French will say yes. In
Churchill's place is Tony Blair, who is himself torn. Tactically, a
French no would save him from the uphill battle of his own referendum.
Strategically, a French yes is needed for him to have any chance of
achieving his historic double goal - anchoring Britain both in Europe
and with America - before the time comes for him to hand over to Gordon
Brown.
Timothy Garton Ash
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.atheism/msg/2cc6a786ff8c7302
France
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.atheism/msg/75bf6aad974e80d9
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