Churchill found de Gaulle 'a danger to peace'

The behaviour of Charles de Gaulle after the Second World War so infuriated Winston Churchill that he believed the French leader posed one of the greatest dangers to peace in Europe.

Secret files released yesterday reveal that De Gaulle fell out with American leaders within a month of the end of the war and even authorised French troops to use force to prevent the Allies taking over land that they controlled.

The row is detailed in a series of telegrams released by the Public Record Office concerning an order by General Dwight D Eisenhower, the supreme Allied commander, for French troops to leave the Italian province of Cueno.

The order was defied by De Gaulle. The French commander on the ground told the Americans he was under instructions to use "all necessary means" to prevent an Allied military government being set up in areas under France's control.

Harry Truman, US President at the time, fired off a cable protesting at the "unbelievable threat" by the French to use their weapons against the forces that had recently liberated them from the Germans.

He sent a copy of the cable to Churchill, who did not try to restrain his anger at De Gaulle when he replied to Truman in June 1945.

"I believe that the publication of your previous message would have led to the overthrow of De Gaulle, who after five long years of experience I am convinced is the worst enemy of France," he wrote.

"I consider General de Gaulle one of the greatest dangers to European peace."

Churchill earlier made his feelings clear when he sent a cable to the British commander Montgomery apologising that he was to be visited by the French leader one week after the 1944 D-Day landings.

"I must inflict upon you a visit from General de Gaulle tomorrow. This is, on no account, to be a burden to you in any duties you have to discharge," he told Montgomery.

"If such formalities exist in the battle area, a guard may be turned out for him. Our relations with him are formal, but we are nevertheless his host."

Churchill urged Montgomery to prevent De Gaulle making speeches and to discourage any large demonstrations of support from the local French people.

"It will be much better he shall make any discourse he wishes after he returns to England," he wrote. "It would surely be undesirable to gather large crowds in Bayeux and have anything in the nature of a political demonstration."

Churchill added grudgingly: "If, however, the people are anxious to welcome him on his way through, it is not for us to deny him."

Churchill's worries about a large demonstration were not realised, and after the visit he was able to note with satisfaction: "De Gaulle's reception in Bayeux and other small towns was definitely lukewarm and there was no real enthusiasm."