| 16. "The French welcomed us at first; now they want us to get out." An American GI recently said, "We're like people who were given a wonderful reception for a week-end. But we've stayed in the house for a year. No one wants a house guest that long." Of course the French would prefer that American troops leave France as soon as possible. (So would you, if you were a Frenchman.) As long as we are here, we impose an added strain on the already overtaxed French economy. The French need the billets and food and supplies and services which they are now supplying to us. (See question § 10.) |