France on its own cannot impose its point of view. But neither should it give up on its demands. With a clear vote for change France will be in a strong position.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The people have spoken. Their decision is sovereign. We all respect it... I wish good luck to those who will now govern France.
I think France should be free, independent, and be the cultural heart of the world because those play a balance in the world.
France needs to find something that makes it stand out. It's not enough for it to do almost as well as its neighbors.
France will insist on the need for updated and responsive institutions.
France has to reform, to recover, and get more competitiveness.
France is no longer herself when she is folded in on herself, tormented by ignorance and intolerance. The country would plunge into decline if it refused to be itself, if it was afraid of the future, afraid of the world.
What the French want is coherence, stability and justice. If I am in a favorable position today, it's because my fellow citizens want to make the effort to straighten out the country, and at the same time they want it to be just and equitable.
From the material point of view the proposal is unacceptable, for France, without further territory in Europe being taken from her, could be so crushed as to lose her position as a Great Power, and become subordinate to German policy.
France cannot be destroyed. She is an old country who, despite her misfortunes, has, and always will have, thanks to her past, a tremendous prestige in the world, whatever the fate inflicted upon her.
I knew it to be very doubtful whether the Cabinet, Parliament, and the country would take this view on the outbreak of war, and through the whole of this week I had in view the probable contingency that we should not decide at the critical moment to support France.
No opposing quotes found.