GAULLE Charles de. L. A. S., 7 December 1952, to his son Lieutenant Philippe de Gaulle (in Oran); 4 pages in-8 headed Le Général de Gaulle. "I hope your flotilla gave you satisfaction during the recent manoeuvres in the Mediterranean. In any case, it was an excellent opportunity for the leader and the flotilla to bond together. I also hope that all the operations in which you took part gave you an impression of power and vigour, taking into account the faults that are inevitable in any human endeavour. The more things go on, the more I believe that the Atlantic allies will move towards an atomic and peripheral strategy, with all the air and sea aspects that go with it. I am more and more convinced that France must not allow itself to be separated from the French Union at any price and that it urgently needs a naval and air and sea force. I intend to state this publicly at the earliest opportunity. I believe I will have been able, with some difficulty, to prevent the supreme folly that would have been the so-called "European" army. Now we have to build something completely different. So here you are, settled in your flat in Oran, and little Charles is in class. I'm delighted. Nothing is more important than getting him ahead in his studies and, in any case, not letting him fall behind. On the other hand, the 'quality' of the teaching he receives and the 'environment' in which he learns are extremely important. You must always choose the best course and then the best school, whatever the difficulties. Mum and I congratulate ourselves on having done this for you and for Elisabeth. The 6F badge is on my desk, attached to the portrait of little Charles"... LNC, II, p. 1100.