The Suitors

The freighter Klim Voroshilov, flying the Hammer & Sickle, wallowed into Marseilles harbor. She had come from Nikolaev, on the Black Sea, with the first 5,234 tons of the 500,000 tons of wheat promised to France by Russia.

Waiting at the dockside to greet her, and to make political capital, was a Communist delegation led by Soviet Ambassador Alexandr Bogomolov. Beside the beaming, suntanned envoy was Madame Bogomolov, carrying a big armload of flowers. While cameras clicked, she exchanged her bouquet for a sheaf of wheat. Briskly the Voroshilov's crew opened the hatches; there, as the lyrical Agence France Presse reported: "Russian wheat glittered under the sun of France." Later, bands played the French and Russian anthems and Ambassador Bogomolov made a speech in praise of Franco-Russian amity. Then 100 token sacks of Russian amity were dumped on trucks and paraded through Marseilles.

The Course of True Love. Lest the hungry French succumb too readily to the ardent Russians, U.S. Ambassador Jefferson Caffrey made an opportune announcement: "During the nine months from July 1, 1945 to April 1, 1946, shipments of bread grains from the U.S. to France and French North Africa totaled 1,894,250 metric tons."

Less deft was a British bid for France's favor. Because President Felix Gouin had hinted that the Rhineland need not necessarily be severed from Germany, Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin tried to reopen talks on a Franco-British alliance. But Socialist Gouin's Cabinet colleagues strenuously objected. As torchbearers for Charles de Gaulle (who, in retirement at Marly-le-Roi, spoke of the time "quand je reviens--when I return"), the Popular Republicans (M.R.P.) held out stubbornly for the "political internationalization" of Western Germany. The Communists suspected that French, British and German Socialists were plotting another Socialist version of the Western Bloc. In a stormy Cabinet session, President Gouin was overwhelmed by pressure from both Foreign Minister Bidault's Catholic M.R.P. and the Communists. Meekly his Government announced no change in its German policy, left the British hand dangling.

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