Letters
French lessons
Sir: Richard West's article 'Stalin's France' (16 April) mentions that millions in France welcomed the explosion of Russia's first atomic bomb in 1948. Apart from their serious endeavours to recover from World War H, the French must have been very pleased that an ally in Europe had not only a victorious Red Army but also a capability to change the European power balance with the Germans for ever. If they had insight it would also have occurred to them that it might promote the sort of détente with the Americans which has in fact occurred, so far blessedly.
I visited Paris for a short holiday in 1948 and I was surprised how well the Parisians lived, while food rationing in Britain was still a very sick joke. People staying at the inexpensive pension I was in had four- course dinners; rough wine maybe, but no question of horse steak. Cigarettes then, as now, were pure tobacco, and cafés a delight compared with the dullness of the average English town pubs of the time.
If 1983 becomes one of the stark years for the French, I shall be surprised to find that it has changed much since 1982. It will just be a lot more crowded, a little less dignified and a lot less 'French' than 1948.
We are ever vainly hopeful that others will remain true to themselves during our holidays.
W. McM. Reid
36 St Peter's Square, London W6
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