How many Frenchmen does it take to hold Paris?
The New Republic asks an interesting question.
"Why is France on the Security Council at all? Paris got its permanent membership (and thus its Security Council veto) as a reward for having helped defeat Nazi Germany. But while the French suffered under Nazism, it was the Americans, Russians, and British who defeated it. (Winston Churchill's envoy to France famously called Charles de Gaulle the heaviest cross he had to bear during World War II.) "
Can the U.N. Security Council dump France? If only...
Hmph. I was going to say: "none, they're too busy surrendering", when I checked out the New Republic link. I like their answer better: "nobody knows..." Heh
Actually, the quote was supposedly from Churchill himself, the reference was not to DeGaulle, but his emblem, the Cross of Lorraine (AKA that thing on Magnum, P.I.'s ring for the Olde Fartes out there).
So, Churchill supposedly said "The Cross of Lorraine is the heaviest I had to bear", etc. I can't say that's the most authoritative version, but it makes more sense. To me, anyway. :))
One of the other good Churchill/DeGaulle quotes was that supposedly FDR remarked that DeGaulle was a descendant of Joan of Arc; whereupon Churchill immediately quipped "Yes, but my bishops won't let me burn him!"
And so it goes... Heh.
I don't see how they can take the seat away from France against their objections, and I also can't see them saying yes, as this is the last Great Power symbol they own...
How many Frenchmen does it take to hold Paris?
Ans: Four, to call the Americans.