FRANCE - DE GAULLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00890A001300010026-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 8, 2000
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: October 20, 1960
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2000/08/29 CIA-RDP79R00890A001300010026-4
NSC BRIEFING
FRANCE m DE GAULLE
20 October 1960
1. De Gaulle still stands high with French
public, but is under increas-
ingly heavy attack from hitherto silent opponents and some of his
former political backers.
A. Die-hard rightists in Assembly aligning with democratic left
against De Gaulle's proposed nuclear strikjgg force and his opposi-
tion to NATO and Integrated European Community.
B. Heavy-handed attitude of De Gaulle government toward parliament
and labor's demands for fairer share in an improved economy
are additional irritants.
II. Algeria increasingly focuses tensions.
A. Failure FLN talks, increasing terrorism, mutual reprisals, rebel
moves to internationalize problem arousing French public opinion.
B. Leftists, many clergy and other groups critical of army methods
and of use of conscripts in this type of war.
1. Student groups have called massive 27 October demonstrations;
wide labor support indicated.
C. Right continues appeals for maintenance of French Algeria.
III. Rightists also stepping up plotting against Fifth Republic and
seeking to unite De Gaulle's military and political opponents.
A. Soustelle on 19 October for first time publicly advanced him-
self as alternative to De Gaulle.
1. He recently set forth broad political-economic program in
opposition to De Gaulle, including French Algeria and inte-
gration of NATO forces, ??'."n ;.!rr~
Approved For Release 2000/08/29: CIA-RC,P7,OR'b081-dA00130-00-0026-4
DATJ _ V'ICYICR: _~,T2044
 Approved For Release 2000/08/29 CCl -RDP79R00890A001300010026-4
IV. However, De Gaulle could still rally most of French public to ac-
cept a move leading to negotiations or even Algerian independence
so long as it was French initiative, if he dared do this. If so,
he might have right-left revolution on his hands.
V. Hence, De Gaulle is still standing pat on his policy of self-
determination and shows no signs of making any move before UN
debate in November.
VI, In addition to public popularity, De Gaulle holds some trump cards.
A. He can't be ousted legally.
B. Threat of dissolution enough to block non-confidence vote in
assembly.
C. Most rightist opponents have no alternate candidate of stature.
1. Opponents primarily involved in stepped up "psychological
warfare" campaign in hope he'll abandon policy of self-
determination.
VII. Nevertheless, possibility increasing that a rightist fanatic may
strike him down.
Approved For Release 2010 /08/29: CIA-RDP79R00890A001300010026-4