synarchy movement of empire book ii - Pierre Beaudry's Galactic ...

"The two countries [England and France] decide on the fusion of
their administrations, the pooling of their resources and losses - in
short, a complete linking of their respective destinies. In face of such a
proposal, made in such circumstances, it is possible that our Ministers
may wish to think again, at least, postpone surrender. But we still have
to get the plan adopted by the British government."
The idea of a single war cabinet was a perfect flank. De Gaulle
consented and convinced Churchill to propose the unusual {French-British
Fusion} to his London Cabinet members who, after two hours of debate,
agreed on the fusion. De Gaulle immediately telephoned Reynaud who was
delaying his Bordeaux Cabinet meeting in order to get the communiqué from
London. Reynaud wrote down the proposition and said: "{It's very
important! I shall use it in the meeting that is about to start.}" Churchill
then jumped on the telephone and said: "{Hello Reynaud! De Gaulle is
right! Our proposal may have great consequences. You must hold
out!}" (Memoirs, p.77)
When Reynaud introduced the De Gaulle-Churchill Fusion proposal,
the Cabinet coldly rejected it without debate. When de Gaulle arrived in
Bordeaux the next day, Reynaud had already submitted his resignation to
President Lebrun. De Gaulle said: "{That meant certain capitulation. My
decision was taken at once. I would leave as soon as morning came.}"
Shirer wrote: "{Feeling himself opposed by the majority of his cabinet
and by the High Command, Paul Reynaud gave in and resigned shortly
after 8 p.m. on June 16. The President of the Republic (Lebrun), who
already had caved in, immediately named Petain to succeed him.
At thirty minutes past midnight of that fateful Sunday the new
French government of the Marshal, with General Weygand as Minister
of Defense, asked the Germans for an armistice.}"
De Gaulle then went to see Reynaud one last time before leaving.
There were no sympathies to be given, just a clear assessment to be gotten of
what happened, and what the next step was going be. De Gaulle already had
an absolute clear understanding of what happened to Reynaud, and he
wanted to confirm his findings. He later gave an extensive and very moving
evaluation of the tragic character of Paul Reynaud. This extraordinary
statement is a beautiful lesson on the difference between tragic and sublime.
It is reported in full immediately below:
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