President Sarkozy of France yesterday dazzled President Bush and Congress by proclaiming his love for America as he sought to rekindle a long alliance that turned soured over war in Iraq.

His address to both Houses of Congress was delivered in French. He began by breathing warm words of fidelity into the translation earpieces worn by almost all the US legislators.

To the first of many standing ovations he spoke of the shared values and history of the two nations, dating back to the War of Independence, and declared: “France is the friend of the United States of America.”

At a dinner held in his honour the previous evening, Mr Sarkozy had signalled his amorous intentions when he toasted President Bush, saying: “On behalf of all Frenchmen, I want to reconquer the heart of America.”

Mr Bush replied by making a rare foreign-language foray, welcoming his guest with the words “Bienvenue à la Maison Blanche.” The White House — as it is more usually known — has been enthralled by Mr Sarkozy, who appears ready to slip into the role of “ally-in-chief” so recently vacated by Tony Blair.

The British former Prime Minister’s own address to Congress in 2003 had been received with a huge ovation. But yesterday Senator Patrick Leahy suggested that Mr Sarkozy had outdone him, saying that the response to a foreign leader had been the “most positive that I’ve heard in 30 years”.

At a joint press conference with Mr Bush held at the Mount Vernon home of George Washington, Mr Sarkozy reiterated his hardline stance against the nuclear ambitions of Iran, saying that “the outstretched hand of continued discussion” must go together with the “worst-case scenario” of military action.

Mr Bush said that there had been disagreement with France over the invasion of Iraq, but added: “I don’t sense any difference of opinion now.” He continued: “It’s safe to say that you’ve impressed a lot of people here on your journey. I have a partner in peace, somebody who has clear vision, basic values, who is willing to take tough positions to achieve peace.”

In his speech to Congress yesterday the French President did not even mention Iraq. Instead he chose to pay tribute to the sacrifice of US soldiers in both world wars for which France owed America “an eternal debt”.

He added: “Whenever an American soldier falls somewhere in the world, I think of what the American Army did for France. I think of them and I am sad, as one is saddened to lose a member of one’s family.”

He promised that the two countries would stand together in the “fight against terror”, solemnly declaring that French troops would “remain engaged in Afghanistan for as long as it takes” and suggesting that Iran should not “doubt our determination” to stop it developing nuclear weapons.

Mr Sarkozy described “the American dream” and went on to cite such figures as Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe and Neil Armstrong as he spoke of the impact that the US had made on his generation. But he also knew that his performance would be closely followed back in France. The Opposition is ready to pounce on him for fraternising too closely with Mr Bush, cartoonists have already started depicting Mr Sarkozy as an American “lap-dog” and his own Gaullist party is itself nervous about his enthusiasm for America.

With this is mind he concluded his speech by setting out areas of disagreement, including monetary policy and currency speculation with a country that should be “setting an example”.

Mr Sarkozy said that America’s admirers expected it “to stand alongside Europe in leading — I repeat, leading — the fight against global warming”.

The US hopes that he will bring France back into full Nato membership, healing a rift that dates from 1966, during the presidency of Charles de Gaulle. But yesterday Mr Sarkozy suggested that America needed first to be less suspicious of plans for a common European defence force.

“The more successful we are in establishing a European defence, the more France will be resolved to resume its full role in Nato,” he said.

Curdled relationship

1778 France enters American Revolutionary War, providing crucial support for the US

1803 France sells the US 530 million acres of French North American territory. The Louisiana Purchase was the biggest land deal in US history

1886 The Statue of Liberty is presented by France to the people of the US. It is agreed that France would produce only the statue, whereas the US would have to pay for her (more expensive) pedestal

First and Second World Wars US troops are instrumental in pushing German forces from French soil, joining the First World War in 1917 and contributing 70,000 men to the Normandy landings in 1944

2003 French President Jacques Chirac is a leading opponent of the US foreign policy, pledging to veto a second UN Security Council resolution that would have authorised the use of military force against Iraq. Chirac’s stance leads to growing anti-French feeling in the US, with a Capitol Hill Administration Committee ordering French fries be renamed freedom fries

Sources: US Army, US National Park Service, US Government, TheTimes

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