The United States' revenge on France came directly and rapidly. Under Eisenhower's instruction, Congress immediately canceled its economic aid to France. The Secretary of State also issued a tough warning to France.

In Eisenhower's opinion, this is a warning, which is to ask Charles de Gaulle to stop the horse. According to the think tank around the five-star general, the French should surrender.

Yes, in the eyes of Americans, France's approach to the Soviet Union is actually a means of threatening to gangsters, and it is nothing more than to continue the Soviet Union's excuses for more financial aid. As long as the United States gives the French a little color, the French will be honest immediately.

But what the Americans did not expect happened. After learning that the United States had interrupted economic aid to France, Charles de Gaulle announced two things: "The first is to restore tariffs on American goods and ban the import of some American goods. The second is to announce a preferential interest-free loan agreement with the Soviet Union."

These two news was like two tricks and hit the Americans hard. Only then did they realize that the French were not a gangster threat, but were really coming. The Eisenhower government suddenly became a little panicked, especially the big financial backer behind Eisenhower was quite dissatisfied.

For example, DuPont Group was quite angry and asked Eisenhower to solve this problem immediately. So why was DuPont Group so angry? As the world's leading chemical group at that time, DuPont successfully occupied the French market by taking advantage of the convenience of the Marshall Plan in World War II. It was once like a fish in the French market. Now, Charles de Gaulle announced that it would ban the import of the United States as a considerable part of DuPont's chemical products. If the French do this, DuPont's sales in France will show a dive. Think about it, DuPont's sales will be happy?

As a big funder who supports Eisenhower to take office, DuPont is quite influential in this US government. Eisenhower quickly felt this influence.

Not only DuPont, but General Manager of General Motors, who is now the Secretary of Defense Wilson, also immediately came forward to warn the president: "Some of General Motors' products are also on the list of France's banned imports... This has attracted strong attention from the General Motors Board of Directors. The Board of Directors hopes that President, you can solve this problem as soon as possible..."

Well, Eisenhower was a little worried. Afterwards, a series of American companies sent representatives or members of parliament to lobby. For a moment, he, the president, was extremely waxed.

In desperation, Eisenhower had to send Secretary of State Dulles to France for urgent consultation, hoping to find a way to solve this problem.

So is the talks between Dulles and De Gaulle going smoothly? How to say it? It is probably not that ideal for Dulles. It is not that de Gaulle doesn't make any effort to get into it, and he doesn't want to be a bird. De Gaulle is not that stupid. De Gaulle's attitude is irreproachable, and even his attitude is very low. Logience says Dulles, the Secretary of State, is enough to be received by the Prime Minister or the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but De Gaulle personally went to greet the US Secretary of State. In his words to reporters, "The French people will never forget the great contributions made by the American people to the liberation of France. In order to express our sincere gratitude to American friends, it is appropriate for me to go and greet them in person."

It has to be said that Charles de Gaulle was too smart and his low posture won unanimous praise. Even if he thought he was more friendly to the Soviet Union than to his allies, or simply the group of French people who were close to the United States changed their views on this somewhat domineering president. In the fashionable words of later generations, he was a black or a fan. In short, his low posture made his support rate even higher.

Later, Charles de Gaulle said to his friend proudly: "Just lowering his posture has won a lot of people's hearts. This deal is too cost-effective. And this also puts Americans on the fire!"

Why did Charles de Gaulle say that he put the Americans on the fire? Because Dulles' attitude towards visiting France this time was very clear. Not to mention that he was completely tough, at least he was more tough. To be honest, he was here to provoke a military force to sue him.

When Dulles walked off the gangway of the plane and saw that De Gaulle was greeting him on the other end of the red carpet, he was shocked. He must not be flattered. Dulles is an old fox. As Secretary of State, he is actually more difficult to deal with than Eisenhower, as president. Because he is well versed in international politics and international relations, he often deals with old foxes from various countries, and has long been clear about it. Eisenhower is more like a professional politician. He is good at doing office politics and developing interpersonal relationships within, but his level is limited in international affairs, but he is not as sensitive as Dulles.

When Dulles saw that it was De Gaulle who came to greet him, he knew that this trip to France would not be easy. So from the photos taken by later reporters, the secretary of state could see a hint of worry and seriousness between his eyebrows when he shook hands with De Gaulle.

It was similar to Dulles's conjecture. Although Charles de Gaulle did not come forward immediately during the formal talks, but the French Prime Minister talked to him, the conversation was almost unsuccessful. The French were very determined and did not agree to cancel the ban on some American goods and also did not agree to suspend cooperation with the Soviet Union.

After the two sides had been quarreling back and forth for n rounds, Dulles was finally annoyed. He asked for a direct meeting with Charles de Gaulle and gave an ultimatum: "If the French government does not intend to solve practical problems and does not care about friendship with the United States, then the US government does not want to waste time."

To be honest, this is already a solution that Dulles has no choice. He must let the French see the true attitude of the United States and force France to give up those unacceptable foreign policies of the United States. However, what Dulles did not expect was that his statement was soon exposed by the "incompetent" translator of the French Foreign Ministry, and the French public opinion circle was immediately in trouble.

As mentioned earlier, De Gaulle's strategy towards the United States and the allies made some French unhappy. This part of the French was pro-alliance and pro-American, and was heartfelt disgusted with the Soviet Union. However, De Gaulle's attitude and welcomed them more satisfied, making this part of the French think that the president still respects public opinion and respects the United States.

Now Dulles' domineering remarks come out, coupled with the intentional guidance of relevant French departments, quickly made this group of French people who were originally pro-American. Although this group of people is pro-American because of their ideology, they are essentially still love their motherland. If their motherland has done everything they should do and the Americans are still aggressive, they will think that the United States is wrong.

Dulles' private ultimatum aroused anger from all over France, and many radical Frenchmen even put out slogans to drive Dulles away from NATO immediately, which was almost unimaginable a few years ago.

Dulles knew that he had been cheated, needless to say, this must be the instruction of Charles de Gaulle. Otherwise, a mere translator would dare to reveal his diplomatic secrets after taking the bear heart. But Dulles was cheated without any means. Although the French did not do it authentically, he said this and had to say this. If he was asked to do it again, he would still give a similar ultimatum.

An old man like Dulles is not ruthless in the diplomatic field, so even if French public opinion shouts and kills one-sidedly, he is unmoved. Since the French are shameless, he can be shameless, who is afraid of whom!

So he was also quite tough in the talks with De Gaulle, almost obviously threatening De Gaulle: "If the French government does not end its will, it will be isolated soon. The US government will do everything possible to safeguard the common interests of allies. Please think twice before doing it!"

After saying this, Dulles left directly. In his opinion, what he should say has been said. If the French still don’t know how to advance or retreat, then there is no need to talk nonsense.

So what is De Gaulle's attitude? Judging from the memoirs of several of De Gaulle's confidants later, De Gaulle seemed very calm, and he was at least prepared to not talk about the threats of Americans.

On the night when the unpleasant talks with Dulles ended, De Gaulle suddenly delivered a national speech. This national speech was so sudden that many French people were caught off guard because De Gaulle's speech was shocked: "Many citizens are paying attention to the negotiations between us and the US government. The main reason for this negotiation is that according to the Americans, it is because of the Soviet Union. Yes, many people will agree with this opinion, thinking that France is close to the Soviet Union and triggered the crisis. However, I want to tell the people of the whole country that this is not the case. The most fundamental reason for this crisis is hegemony. Americans think they are the saviors of Europe and think they can

To dominate and determine everything in Europe, we must live in the way the US government hopes, just like we are puppets of the United States. Because of the needs of the United States, we must alienate the Soviet Union, open our own markets, and make our workers lose valuable employment opportunities. This is just the beginning. The Americans have prepared a noose for us. If we do not resist, they will become more and more tight... France is always free, we refuse to be enslaved, exploited, and live in the American way. This is the root of this so-called crisis. The free French must say no to American hegemony, because our freedom is above everything!"

After a pause, Charles de Gaulle continued: "My meeting with the US Secretary of State was not pleasant. The Secretary of State used American arrogance to tell me what to do and what to do. He thought he was the emperor of France. He even told me with threats that if I didn't do this, France would be despised by allies. I knew what the subtext of his words was, and it was nothing more than warning me that if I didn't obey, I would drive France out of NATO and let us face the threat of the Soviet Union alone... Aha, what a direct threat! Americans thought I would surrender,

And now I want to tell him that I refuse to accept the threat because I know that millions of French citizens refuse to accept the threat like me... Well, some citizens may be really worried about the threat from the Soviet Union, and that the Soviet nuclear bombs will land on our homes, and I am also worried. So this afternoon, I conducted emergency consultations with the Soviet Union through a special hotline, and now I want to tell you the results of the consultation. The French government and the Soviet government have reached an agreement. In the future, the two governments jointly guarantee that the Soviet nuclear missiles will no longer target France if they do not use nuclear weapons first!!"

De Gaulle's speech ended here, and he did not continue, because he thought he had finished speaking, so the French would naturally understand what he meant, and the French should be very happy with the achievements he had achieved.

Of course, we all know that such a major agreement will definitely not be settled in one afternoon. In fact, France and the Soviet Union have been talking about this issue for a long time. A draft had been reached before Dulles visited France. With Dulles' strong statement, the final resistance to preventing the French from signing the formal agreement was gone.

For the French, the most important role of NATO is the nuclear protection of the United States. Once the Soviet Union announced that it would no longer take the initiative to threaten France, this protective effect would be greatly weakened. On the contrary, because the Americans are domineering, the French will be very dissatisfied. This nation is already very emotional, and once the rebellious psychology breaks out, no one can stop it.

Dulles also heard Charles de Gaulle's national speech, and at this time he realized that he had fallen into a trap. As a sophisticated diplomat, he naturally knew the tricks in the agreement. It is very likely that France and the Soviet Union had reached an agreement long ago, and they had decided to announce it deliberately when he came. The reason is very simple. There must be a reasonable excuse for withdrawing from NATO, and he, the domineering US Secretary of State, is undoubtedly the best excuse. For Charles de Gaulle, the only thing he is worried about is not the threat from the United States, but the real French public opinion. If the French people can support them willingly, what if they withdraw from NATO? Afraid of a bird!

In other words, Dulles was actually used. Dulles, who had figured out all this, was so angry that he had no shame to stay in France again and flew away without saying hello. In response, the French media bluntly expressed their likes and dislikes in the newspaper: "Dules is out!"

But what is more interesting is that Dulles left, but Charles de Gaulle did not immediately announce his withdrawal from NATO. In fact, he had no words about it, as if he had forgotten that there was NATO. Because he was no longer an angry young man and would not do things impulsively. He could indeed withdraw from NATO, but this was just a temporary pleasure. After all, the French people are just angry now, so they have not yet tasted the taste. But once this anger is over, they may change their minds, so it is not the right way to voluntarily withdraw from NATO. Keep calm for the time being, kick the ball to the Americans, and give them a headache! (To be continued.).

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Chapter completed!