De Gaulle let subordinates voice hard-line positions he would later disavow.

Evidence

Soustelle, who says he was in Salan’s office when Dulac returned to render an account of his meeting with de Gaulle, claims that (quoting Dulac) de Gaulle had added “If I do not succeed, alors faites le nécessaire.” Soustelle took this to mean that de Gaulle favoured a military take-over if all else failed. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 908 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

At the very moment Lagaillarde was surrendering, a coldly furious de Gaulle was on the telephone to Delouvrier, accusing him of “showing too much indulgence. Finish it off for me, and quickly.” — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1126 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: De Gaulle wanted a harder suppression than his field commander delivered. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1126; De Gaulle may have countenanced a military takeover as a fallback. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 908; De Gaulle refused to return to power by force, rejecting Napolonic dictatorial paths. — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 898 (+1 more)

Related

• De Gaulle may have countenanced a military takeover as a fallback. (similarity 0.90)
• De Gaulle refused to repudiate the army’s force while denying dictatorial intent (similarity 0.89)
• De Gaulle wanted a harder suppression than his field commander delivered. (similarity 0.88)
• De Gaulle refused to return to power by force, rejecting Napolonic dictatorial paths. (similarity 0.85)
• De Gaulle took power in June 1958 offering no Algerian solution. (similarity 0.85)
• De Gaulle’s mystical self-assurance blinded him to the F.L.N.’s political character. (similarity 0.84)
• The Algerian army command openly threatened to replace de Gaulle over self-determination. (similarity 0.83)
• Algeria was only one element of de Gaulle’s larger ambitions. (similarity 0.83)
• De Gaulle’s conciliatory gestures angered the army while winning no concessions from the F.L.N. (similarity 0.83)
• Ultras believed they could depose de Gaulle as they had raised him (similarity 0.82)
• De Gaulle was willing to shed blood to preserve the state (similarity 0.82)
• De Gaulle’s allies saw Algeria as subordinate to the French state’s crisis (similarity 0.82)
• Algeria’s top army commander publicly pledged to disobey de Gaulle (similarity 0.82)
• De Gaulle’s pursuit of national grandeur required sacrificing Algeria. (similarity 0.82)
• Dissident colonels threatened to replace de Gaulle with Challe. (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• De Gaulle may have countenanced a military takeover as a fallback. #corroborates (0.50) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 908
• De Gaulle wanted a harder suppression than his field commander delivered. #complicates (0.40) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1126
• De Gaulle refused to repudiate the army’s force while denying dictatorial intent #expands (0.35)
• De Gaulle refused to return to power by force, rejecting Napolonic dictatorial paths. #complicates (0.30) — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 898