Dear Dame,
May I remind those roaring on about the Government's negotiating position with the EU may I remind readers what President de Gaulle had to say about treaties.
(“Treaties are like young girls and roses: they last as long as they last.”)
Throughout history, nations such as France, Germany, Russia, Britain and the United States have broken or abrogated treaties when their leaders and/or parliaments have judged that it was imperative for their national interest to do so.
So let’s have no fainting fits, or virtue-signalling hypocrisy, on this important matter.
Yours ever,
'one who knows'
Cmon Boris lets get Brexit done.. whats the hold up ?
ReplyDeleteThis link to a French site gives the exact quote and context of De Gaulle's sentence.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.planet.fr/societe-qui-a-dit-les-traites-voyez-vous-sont-comme-les-jeunes-filles-et-comme-les-roses-ca-dure-ce-que-ca-dure.1477015.29336.html#:~:text=Qui%20a%20dit%20%3A%20%22Les%20trait%C3%A9s,R%C3%A9ponse%20%3A%20Le%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral%20de%20Gaulle.&text=Une%20rose%20ne%20dure%20que,une%20roseraie%20dure%20tr%C3%A8s%20longtemps%20%C2%BB.
Which treaty or agreement has France reneged on? Answer: none. On this occasion, Dear Dame, your point is moot.
ReplyDeleteFor example, France broke the terms of the 1802 Treaty of Amiens, although France might deny this. President Charles de Gaulle, now in heaven, could provide other examples. However, I would that agree France has a comparatively good record in keeping treaties. This is probably because France has always excelled in the art of diplomacy, whose chief requirement is the ability to lie successfully for one’s country. Note that President de Gaulle, in making his wonderfully cynical and true comment that “Treaties are like young girls and roses: they last as long as they last”, did not exclude French treaty keeping, nor French girls and roses. He was far too knowledgeable, honest and elegant to make that mistake.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete