The latest news from France concerns the remarks of the French foreign minister, Hubert Vedrine. He is reported to have told a private meeting that American Jews are even more “intransigent” than Ariel Sharon. The minister, who was just forced to resign when the socialists fetched up third in the first round of the presidential elections, suggested that what France needed to do was to try to change the politics of American Jews, as they had undue influence on President Bush. We wouldn’t want to suggest that anyone would harm the hapless Hubert. But his bluster reminds us of that scene from the movie Casablanca, in which Major Strasser fantasizes about occupying New York. Replies Humphrey Bogart: “There are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn’t advise you to try to invade.”