It's not so much that they were bought off cheaply as it is they underpriced themselves to begin with. Weird, considering the culture of arrogance they have. I guess they must have had serious internal debates, given the two competing French instints: Act insulted that French people were priced so low, or Give in Grovellingly to avoid dispute with someone who can hurt them.

I think both are true, they were brought cheaply, and underpriced themselves to get the trade deals. They were so desperate to improve their relationship, and get trade going again, that they let the whole thing go easily. Unfortunately not a lot could be done, as the UN security council embargo was still on, with the USA/ and Britian still to come to an agreement. France were in position to take advantage, but not allowed to do so, 3 years later and hey presto, UK and USA come to a very hefty sum, and will also be allowed to trade freely. France is now thinnking... "Hold, we thought that by selling ourselves, we would get major benefits, we got nothing, now USA and Britain are getting huge amounts, they look strong, we look weak and cheap, and they get to trade, it's not fair " *throws dummy out of pram* "wahhhhhh!!!!"

At the moment, I think the French are thinking: Sacre Bleu, where can I buy an AIR CONDITIONER? Followed by: "Now that we've all bought air conditioners, how do we still mock the Americans for their heavy energy consumption?"

The current french government is busy trying to become much more powerful then the size of there country dictates. They need to realize they are not on equal ground when it comes to the USA, maybe if they choose to be a true ally instead of the worlds leader they would not suffer so much.

Sgt wrote : Sacre Bleu, where can I buy an AIR CONDITIONER? and you are proud to have this device with a thirdworld power grid ??

Well it is better to have outdoor heating, than a country that glows in the dark. Nothing beat aurea borealis - though.

ME: Sgt wrote : Sacre Bleu, where can I buy an AIR CONDITIONER? Our friend from the land of the Traitors: and you are proud to have this device with a thirdworld power grid ?? Me again: Of course. A little shared public difficulty keeps our community together. Too bad you missed the Great New York All Night Candle-lit Beer and Ice Cream Party. A little deprivation is good for the soul, it helps you understand the lives of those to whom deprivation is a constant state. It was the Best thing this city's had in years. We had only one death. Those crazy Canadians, though, they went wild.

NotObvious wrote: Our friend from the land of the Traitors... ok , the dices are rolled. But would you kindly reply to my thread at the ivory coast board ?

Was impressed whilst in France, their 75% power production/ dependency on nuclear power, set against the back drop of men with hosepipes hosing down the reactors to prevent them over heating ( I swithced all the electrics on whilst I was there to help! :)), drafting new laws to allow them to pump in hotter water into all the streams and rivers. (again helping their environmental credentials!). Even worse has come, winemakers, after years of critism of the new world wine makers regions have with the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine, declared that you are allowed to add tartaric acid to the wine. Far from crying out about cheapness of it all (as they do with foreign wines) this has gone by largely silently in France. If not you would soon start being able to buy Cheval-blanc with screw top lids