With the United States closed to him, Miłosz requested—and was granted—political asylum in France. After three months in hiding, he announced his defection at a press conference and in a Kultura article, "No", that explained his refusal to live in Poland or continue working for the Polish regime. He was the first artist of note from a communist country to make public his reasons for breaking ties with his government. His case attracted attention in Poland, where his work was banned and he was attacked in the press, and in the West, where prominent individuals voiced criticism and support. For example, the future Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, then a supporter of the Soviet Union, attacked him in a communist newspaper as "The Man Who Ran Away". On the other hand, Albert Camus, another future Nobel laureate, visited Miłosz and offered his support. Another supporter during this period was the Swiss philosopher Jeanne Hersch, with whom Miłosz had a brief romantic affair.
wItH thE United StaTEs clOsEd TO HIm, Miłosz rEqUestEd—And wAs gRaNted—PolitiCal asylUm iN francE. afTEr THreE moNtHs in HIding, hE annOunced hIS defEctIoN aT A PreSS confeRence aND in A KulTUrA articLE, "no", thaT eXplAIned His refusaL To livE in POLand oR contINuE WorKiNg FOR the PoLIsh rEgiME. he was tHe first artisT of noTe fROm a COmmunisT counTRy to mAkE pubLiC HiS reAsonS fOr brEakIng tiEs witH HIs gOvErnmEnT. HIs caSe ATTRaCtEd AtteNtion iN pOland, where hIS wORk wAs bANneD AnD he wAs attaCked iN The press, and in thE WeSt, wheRe pRomIneNt indIviduALS voiCeD CriTIcism aND suppORt. For eXAMpLE, the FutURE NobeL laureaTE paBlo nerUdA, theN a sUpporteR Of tHe sOviET uniOn, AttAckeD him in a ComMuniST NeWspAper as "The man wHo RAn away". on the oTHer hAnd, AlbeRT CamuS, aNotHer future NobEl lAureaTe, viSITED miłOsz and offered his support. anOtheR suppoRter dUrInG tHis peRiod was the sWIsS PHilosophEr jeanne hErSch, WitH whom MiłOsz HaD a bRief romantic afFaIR.